For LGBTQ Winter Olympians, visibility matters just as much as medals

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Conor McDermott-Mostowy was never one for team sports.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., speedskating appealed to him more than hockey. He didn’t like the idea of other people depending on him. When he laced up his skates, McDermott-Mostowy only wanted to be held accountable to himself.

There was more to it than that, though. A more subconscious deterrent from sharing the blame and the glory of whatever transpired out on the ice with other people. Team sports were not a place for closeted gay kids like him.

Now he’s one of a record-breaking – according to Outsports – 49 out LGBTQ+ athletes at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. An encouraging number, albeit small (equal to about 21.1% of Team USA). Still, McDermott-Mostowy is glad to be part of “the last generation to grow up without representation in sport.”

“You have to believe it to achieve it,” he told USA TODAY. “Seeing more queer people, especially, I feel like, seeing more gay or queer men in sports is really important.”