My Weekend Crush

I always, always love the Olympics. But this year, the event (despite its many, many flaws from ongoing corruption, exorbitant expenses, environmental impacts, et al) came at perhaps the perfect time. For a nation like ours that is so fiercely and feverishly divided, the Olympics was a hopeful reminder of what makes us really great. No, obviously not that rah-rah jingoism of bald eagle screeches and whatever the fuck Kash Patel was doing in the Team USA men’s hockey lockeroom. But the big-hearted, big-dreamers who care about and cheer for each other.

The version of America that most of the athletes of the 2026 Winter Games showed was that of empathy, grace, compassion and most importantly concern for their fellow athletes. I’ve never seen a more genuinely caring figure skating Olympic competition. Like this is the same contest where in the past one athlete ordered a hit on another athlete, FROM THE SAME TEAM. I’ve never heard more athletes talk openly about the toll Olympic pressure puts on their mental health. Or what success means outside of winning medals. And, of course, I’m heartened despite the horrid backlash they’ve endured that so many of Team USA also have spoken out about what is happening in this country. More of that, from more athletes and everyone else, all the time and not just every four years, please.

This year’s Olympics were also a reminder for me about how much I despise all the unchecked AI being thrust into our lives. I can’t help but believe it’s true intent is – besides, of course, getting rid of all those pesky higher-paying white collar jobs so the oligarchs can buy more private sex islands and megayachts – is to rob us of the wonder of humanity. So with each picture, each video, each given “fact” we have to ask, “But is it real or AI”?

Honestly, when I look at any of the magnificent photography coming out of this year’s Olympics, I see why I will never accept AI art. A whole industry just to recreate and reorder reality. Yet the beauty of human emotions doesn’t need enhancement. We’re doing it every day. Look at Alysa Liu's face. The JOY. All that, and it’s also destroying the planet. So, truly, truly fuck off, AI. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Credit to the human photographers Matthew Stockman/Getty (top) and Christophe Ena/AP (bottom).

My Weekend Crush

@amberglenniceskater Reminder during this Olympics that athletes come in all shapes & sizes #strongisbeautiful #olympics #TeamUSA ♬ original sound - Tbow

Whew. Olympic gold medalist and out queer figure skater Amber Glenn is…fit. She is very fit. She’s also very rad. She is among the slew of Team USA athletes who has spoken out against the Trump administration (only to face the wrath of the MAGA hate mob and the Orange Turd himself – because of course). I’m really so proud of all these athletes for showing the world that decent and compassionate U.S. citizens still exist. While I’ve been too busy to write about these Winter Olympics, I have taken every free moment to catch what I can. The 26 year old, who came out as pansexual in 2019, will return to Olympic ice on Tuesday. But before then she posted herself in this tank top. And, well, I simply could not wait until Tuesday. I think you can understand my reasoning perhaps. Also, please accept this early submission as my apology for going AWOL again this week. My work thing is now successfully over and I can return my attention to Ye Olde Blogge again. Anyway, please enjoy the abs. *swallows tongue* Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Did you know she is also a huge Magic: The Gathering fan? A queer jacked nerd with guns and a six-packs who prioritizes her mental health? *reswallows tongue*

Tank Top Tuesday: Ilona Issue

I know that Ilona Maher is straight. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Some people are just born that way. But, damn, has she missed an opportunity with queer women everywhere. Like, how you don’t look at this Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue digital cover (I know, I know) and not swallow your tongue? Yet she has well chronicled the opposite sex’s difficulties with her, well, body. Oh no, she has broad shoulders and a strong jaw. Oh no, she is strong enough to pick you up and carry you around like a pretty, pretty princess. Yeah, not a problem for us. Not a problem at all. Anyway. The bronze medal-winning US rugby star looks great in the many, many, many, many, many photos of her in various forms of a bikini in this photoshoot. (And, once again, I contend bikinis still fall under the larger Tank Top umbrella. So say us all.) As I was saying, good for her. And, you know, call us if you ever give up on the fellas.

Gender Fuck Them Thursday

This is actually what the Olympics is *supposed* to be about. pic.twitter.com/drTPVdw3Qi

— Earthling (@ziyatong) August 10, 2024

Well, well, well – if all the real-life supervillains/billionaires aren’t finally entering the “finding out” phase. After disparaging, degrading, defaming and downright harassing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif through her whole Olympics, the gold medalist has hit back – legally. This week Imane filed a lawsuit with French authorities against that horrid wizard lady, that self-driving death traps guy and everyone else who has relentlessly cyberbullied her insisting she was a “man.” JK, Elon, et all, I say this most sincerely, fuck you you fucking fucks. And so very well done, Imane. Like, I feel like moments like this were made for that Lucille Bluth “good for her” gif.

I cannot imagine the levels of hatred and abuse (and racism, don’t forget that part!) that this poor woman has had to endure simply because the simultaneously richest, stupidest and most malevolent billionaires in the world have an anti-trans agenda. Though, if we’re being accurate, they have an anti-woman agenda. Because anytime an outside group of people gets the power to determine who or who isn’t a woman – besides that woman herself – all women lose. Oh, well, she may “technically” be a woman, but she doesn’t act/dress/look/punch sufficiently how we think a woman should, so you’re not a woman anymore. That road leads to only bad things for women, all women. Plus, none of these kinds of attacks – almost always when white women lose to women of color – are new. Remember Caster Semanya? Same old bigoted story.

(And fuck off with that “gender testing” hooha. The so-called boxing association that made those declarations has been permanently banned from the Olympics and has ties to Russia. It’s always fucking Russia.)

Anyway, I hope she sues the pants off these disgusting wealth hoarders and then gets to live a long, happy, successful life doing whatever the fuck she pleases. You come for the OLYMPIC BOXING CHAMPION, you best not miss.

p.s. Instead of posting photos of moldy mansion and space dick, I thought I would share what the true Olympic spirit should look like as all of Imane’s fellow boxing medalists celebrate together. More joy, less hate, less billionaires aand bigots telling us who qualifies as a woman.

My Weekend Crush

Well, it’s been another extraordinary week for Team USA and Team World at the Olympics. As we head into the final weekend, I’d like to provide some intellectual analysis of how our inspirational performances have helped reinvigorated long-dormant patriotism within a deeply divided nation. I mean, I’d like to do that – theoretically. But instead I’m just going to be deeply, deeply shallow. Because is it just me or is every single Team USA women's gold medalist in track & field like the hottest person you've ever seen in your whole entire life? Respectfully.

The second week of the Olympics has featured America’s best and brightest track and field stars. And, goodness, have these athletes delivered. Gold for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles. Gold for Tara Davis-Woodhall in long jump. Gold for Gabby Thomas in the 200m. Gold for Valarie Allman in discus. And that’s just so far.

Each one of these women is unbelievably talented, determined, accomplished and, yes, hot. While it shouldn’t be terribly surprising that the most athletic people on the planet are also terribly good looking. But, like, they’re all just so inescapably attractive. Truly, it hardly seems fair to us mere mortals. But at least we get to gaze upon these modern-day super(hot)heroes.

Though, honestly, all the US team’s female medalists – gold, silver and bronze – in track and field so far are just…*lower lip bite* (Anna Cockrell, Annette Echikunwoke, Sha’Carri Richardson, et al, I totally see you). And if we’re being really honest, track and field is filled with smoke shows regardless of the country. Go Team World, indeed. Look, I watch the Olympics for its spectacle of global goodwill, competition and excellence. But I also watch it because these women athletes are just astonishing to behold. And sometimes, well, you just want to spend two weeks watching the fastest, highest, strongest and hottest among us. Respectfully. Happy last weekend of the Olympics, all.

My Weekend Crush

[Click to Embiggen the Femininomenons!]

I don’t mean to be a total homer, but can I just say, “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” Now, I apologize to our International Kittens. I actually root for everyone to do their best during the Olympics. But, admittedly, I can’t help feel a little righteous pride as we hit the half way mark on the 2024 Paris Games. Of the nine gold medals won by Team USA, seven of them are by female athletes or women’s teams.

In fact, no individual male US athlete has won a gold medal thus far*. Two USA men’s teams (men’s 4X100 freestyle swimming relay and men’s four rowing) have won gold, alongside the two USA female teams (women’s team foil fencing and women’s team gymnastics). Indeed so far the individual gold medal winners for Team USA are ALL women – Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Torri Huske, Kate Douglass and Lee Kiefer. It’s been awesome to watch and amazing to experience.

This is no shade on Team USA’s silver and bronze winners (which, should be noted, were also mostly female. In fact, USA men/men’s teams have only won 12 of our 37 medals so far).

Not to put too fine a point on this (and extrapolate any political prognastications, ahem), but something tells me this is NOT the year to bet against women. Talk about your Femininomenons! Happy Women of the Olympics weekend, all.

*This was written at end-of-day Thursday, so these numbers could have changed over the weekend. But, my point still stands. WOMEN!

Olympic Wonder Women

The more I watch the Paris Olympics, the more I become that gif of Jo March just going “WOMEN!” Also, the more I watch Team USA women win, the more I become that person screaming, “RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE M*THERFUCKER! THESE COLORS DON’T RUN B*TCH!” Anyway, I hope you’ve been enjoying the games as well. As a lifelong fan of the Olympics (as imperfect as they are and have always been), I fall in love with the magnificent scope of human excellence every four years.

As I continue my renaissance as a sports lover this year (turns out I don’t dislike sports, I just dislike most men’s sports), this is also the first year of gender parity with the same number of male and female athletes. So there’s no better year to root, root, root for your home team – and it should be noted that most of America’s medal winners so far are women. Ahem.

Yesterday we added two more to that tally with US Women’s Gymnastics winning the team gold and US Women’s Rugby winning the bronze (also the first Olympic medal for any US team in rugby 7s, male or female, period). Both wins were emotional and inspirational. I’d also like to note for the record, I’ve been an Ilona Maher fan since the 2021 Tokyo games. So her new-found stardom is just wonderful to behold, even if she is straight. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Instead, for all the Olympic sapphics, if you happened to watch the Gymnastics Team Finals live, you were treated to two-time Olympic medalist and proudly out retired gymnast Laurie Hernandez providing color commentary and slipping in a sly lesbian roommates joke based on a popular old Vine. We stan a queer broadcasting queen, who’s got jokes!

I can’t wait for what all these amazing athletes can do for the rest of these games.

Music Monday: Celine

Oh la la, Paris. The City of Light put on a dazzling, daring, downright cheeky show to open the Olympics. Like who else would proudly highlight a ménage à trois, decapitated aristocrats and drag runway models but France? In related news, American evangelicals continue to prove they’ve literally never read a single book (including and especially not the Bible) with their moronic outrage over the supposed Last Supper drag reenactment which was actually a tribute to the Greek God Dionysus.

Honestly, I blame NBC for not being better about describing the imagery in the ceremony. I mean, none of the hosts mentioned even once that the masked, nonbinary rooftop-running torchbearer was obviously from Assassin's Creed. And why the hell did they wait until the entire Minions segment was over, during which I confusedly wondered if I was hallucinating or had accidentally changed the channel, to tell us their animation studio was French? Context matters. How else can we exist within it?

Anyway, where was I? Oh right. The Olympics. Paris. And, of course, Celine Dion. It was the definition of a showstopper to have Celine close the ceremony with “Hymne A L'Amour.” Despite the devastating struggles with her health, she put on a performance for the ages. Like how many performers could outshine the Eiffel Tower? Thanks for the memories, Paris. Let’s go, athletes of the world. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend Contemplation

I know the Olympics are over and the history books have closed on another chapter of human excellence. But the Beijing Winter Olympics will also forever know for human cruelty and ineptitude. I’m still not over the women’s figure skating free skate. What a horrible thing to watch, and even more horrible for the girl – and she is very much a girl at just 15 years old – to live through.

Every single adult around Kamila Valieva utterly failed her, and in allowing this to play out also damaged every other athlete competing in women’s figure skating this Olympics. It was terrible to watch Kamila implode alone on ice, even more terrible to hear her coach berate instead of comfort her immediately afterward. Around her her 17-year-old Russian Olympic Committee teammates were either melting down (silver medalist Alexandra Trusova) or left confused and alone (gold medalist Anna Shcherbakova). Again, it was terrible to watch.

It felt like we were watching child abuse live on television. And, honestly, we were. Kamila should have never been allowed to skate. And the “irreparable harm” the Court of Arbitration or Sports hoped to avoid by letting her compete happened anyway, but so much worse.

While the ugliest side of human nature means there will always be powerful who prey on the less powerful, more must be done in the Olympics to keep adults from abusing these children. And, yes, doping a 15-year-old girl with banned performance enhancing drugs is fucking child abuse. That alone would be enough, but the ROC coach Eteri Tutberidze is notorious for her strict, unyielding (read: abusive) molding of a seemingly endless series of teenage champions with preternaturally short careers.

I hope the disaster of the women’s free skate this year makes the Olympics raise the minimum age for its athletes. We know the pressure and burden of international acclaim and expectations that comes with being an Olympian can be too much for adults, let alone children. If we’re serious, as human fucking beings, in confronting mental health in sports (and elsewhere), we first need to take children off the field of engagement.

I fell in love with Olympic figure skating as a kid. I remember the “Battle of the Carmens.” But I fell head-over-heels when Kristi Yamaguchi won gold in 1992. I was an Asian-American kid watching an Asian-American athlete achieve her dreams. I still fondly remember the programs from Kristi and Nancy Kerrigan and Midori Ito like it was yesterday.

But the thing about those champions is that in the 1992 Olympics they were 20, 22 and 22, respectively. And then Nancy went on to win another silver (after some, um, whacking drama) four years later, at age 26. That’s unheard of, a champion contending for the gold at age 26? Now the five-year age difference between Kristi and Kamila might not seem that much, on the surface, the maturity and emotional intelligence of a 15-year-old and 20-year-old truly feel decades apart.

If the tricks we demand of these athletes are too hard for an adult to do, we probably shouldn’t be having children doing them either – regardless of whether they can. Abuse seems to run rampant in these high-intensity, highly technical sports that also demand it’s athletes disguise the actual effort it takes to achieve their almost superhuman feats – like gymnastics and figure skating. And that’s likely because the most elite athletes are children.

I still love the Olympics for its lessons in human determination and endurance. But the idea that the Games represent the purity of anything after what we saw during women’s figure skating should be shattered for good. They’re only games if everyone is having fun. And that wasn’t fun. That was all wrong. Let’s try to fix it so we don’t litter the ice with more broken girls in the future. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Oh, and ban Russia from everything - basically. If they cannot play fair (or, you know, refrain from starting unprovoked wars) they should not be there or host the events again.

Level Playing

Know your worth. True in everyday life. True in elite sports. The U.S. Women’s National Team has been fighting the U.S. Soccer Federation for six years because they know their worth. And yesterday, they won. Since 2016, the USWNT has been legally fighting for equal pay from the federation for player salaries, bonuses and award money. Yesterday, they settled their lawsuit for $24 million — $22 million to be split among players and $2 million reserved for a fund to help players with post-playing career projects. The federation also pledges equal pay rates going forward for all women's and men's national teams in exhibitions and tournaments, including the World Cup.

It’s a long time coming for a team that has had unparalleled success on the world stage and whose players have become household names. Their lawsuit originally asked for $67 million in back pay, but they settled for $24 million. Honestly, if anything, the USWNT went too low because can you name a single U.S. Men’s National Team player? Like one single solitary player? Yep, I got nothing.

But, I know that celebrity is a fickle barometer. So how about we use results instead? The USWNT has won four World Cups — in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 The USMNT? Zero. Care to guess their best finish? Well that would be a third place finish wayyyyy back in 1930. I am not kidding, their best outing was 92 years ago.

Still not convinced? Let’s try the Olympics. The USWNT has won six medals (four golds from 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012; one silver in 2000 and one bronze in 2020). How many do the USMNT have? Two, a silver in 1904 and a bronze that same year because for some reason we had two teams who competed because why not. So, um, good job 118 years ago, fellas.

So when I say the USWNT should be making more, that’s based on merit. Americans love the myth of the meritocracy, so why not lean heavily into the idea. The USWNT in both tournament results and name-recognition, is light-years ahead of the men’s team. To put it simply they are just better and more popular. Ergo, they should be paid more. Yet because they are women they were paid way, way, waywayway less.

How much less? Nearly half, and sometimes so much less than that. When you made a World Cup team as a men’s player, you got $67,000. When you made a World Cup team as a women’s player, you got $37,500. Then there are the win bonuses. As a man you would make $9,375 for each win against a team outside the Top 25, and $5,000 for a loss. Yes, you read that right, money for a loss. For the women, a win against a team ranked outside the Top Eight would give each player $5,250, and nothing for a loss. Finally men’s players who won the World Cup (which, laughs forever) take home $407,608, while women made $110,000 for winning the whole damn World Cup. And those are UPDATED rates. For a long time the US women made LESS when they won than the US men made when they lost.

You can see now why the USWNT was originally asking for $67 million, and honestly should have gotten it. But, you know what, we’ll settle for equality. Finally.

My Weekend Olympic Crush

So, obviously, there aren’t a ton of tank top-clad athletes in the Winter Olympics. But it’s not like there aren’t any tank top opportunities. Ahem. Also if you’ve got a thing for winter jackets, ski goggles and really thick thighs, hot damn, are the Beijing Games for you. According to Outsports, the 2022 Winter Games has a record number of out & LGBTQ+ athletes, with 36 in all. Team Canada’s Women’s Hockey Team leads the way with seven, SEVEN, out athletes. Oh, Canada (Good job on that gold medal, by the way. Respect). You should sic the team on the truckers — just a thought.

Meanwhile, Team USA has only five out athletes in total at these Games. That includes only two out female Olympians: hockey player Alex Carpenter and speed skater/Olympic flag-bearer Brittany Bowe. The latter, it should be noted, gave up her spot in the 500 meters speed skate to teammate Erin Jackson, who had slipped in the U.S. Olympic trials which cost her an automatic spot in her signature race. Jackson went on to win the gold in Beijing in the 500 and became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in speedskating. Bowe went on to win the bronze, her first Olympic medal, in the 1,000-meter. Give good, get good. Also, just a reminder, Winter Olympic sports are often expensive and require pricey equipment and costly training facilities. Like everything else in life, athletic achievement is intrinsically tied to privilege and opportunities.

Have I mentioned I’ve watched A LOT of Olympics as I was getting over Covid? Because I have. So here are a few of my personal standouts and crushes from these Games.

Erin & Brittany, Speed Skating, USA

Give these two a buddy movie where they skate down bad guys for a tiny northern Minnesota police department or something.

Ireen Wüst, Speedskating, Netherlands

The Dutch speedskater became the first person to win an individual gold medal at five Olympics and is also Family. Am I sneaking in another stealth tank top picture because I love you and want you to be happy? Of course I am.

Lindsey Jacobellis, Snowboard Cross, USA

Who doesn’t love a good redemption story? At age 20 and in her first Olympics in 2006, Lindsey was leading her snowboard cross race when on the last jump she grabbed her board and fell on the landing, costing her the win and having to settle for silver. The move has became a cautionary showboating tale since then. She went to three more Olympics, failing to medal. But this year, at age 36, she finally won that snowboard cross race. And she even took home a second gold, for good measure, in the mixed team snowboard cross race with her 40-year-old teammate Nick Baumgartner (golds for olds!). Best of all, in winning her first gold, Lindsey vanquished those 2006 demons and snuck in a successful board grab on her last jump. Never be defined by your mistakes. Just do better.

Chloe Kim, Snowboard, USA

If you don’t like Chloe then I’m pretty sure you hate happiness.

Eileen Gu, Freestyle Skiing, China

Look, I’m not going to get into the whole “She was born in San Francisco, why is she competing for China!” discourse. It smacks of xenophobia and misogyny because it’s not like it’s an unusual phenomena. The Chinese Olympic Men’s Hockey team is PACKED with American and Canadian players. In fact 15 of the national team’s 25 athletes are naturalized citizens (with some Chinese ancestry or just willing to move to the country to gain citizenship). But for some reason an 18-year-old young Asian woman is the greatest turncoat in Olympic history. Funny how that works. Yes, I know, she may not be fully versed on geopolitical human rights issues in China. But, uh, have you read the news in America laterly? Borders and bullshit anyway.

Kaillie Humphries & Elana Meyers Taylor, Bobsled, USA

Kaillie & Elana went No. 1 and 2 in the inaugural women’s monobob, a feat in and of itself made more so by their backstories. Elana got COVID right before the Games started, and spent the start of the Olympics in isolation and unable to train (or see her special needs son). But she was somehow still able to somehow still win a silver, her fourth medal in as many Olympics. And then there’s Kaillie, won golds for Canada in 2014 and 2010. But then in 2018 she filed harassment charges against a Team Canada coach who she said created a toxic environment and subjected her to mental and emotional harassment. So you know what? She left (and Canada begrudgingly released her). She got her US citizenship just in time for the Beijing Games, where she took gold in the first-ever Women’s Monobob. So, if you’re not happy and have the help, resources and ability to do so, fucking leave.

So, any favorite Beijing moments so far? Happy last Olympic weekend, all.

Tank Top Tuesday: Queer Olympics Edition

Oh, you thought the Olympics were over? Well they’ll live forever in my heart. And because this year’s historic number of out LGBTQ+ athletes made it too much to chronicle each one, I will give additional special shout outs to some of the out non-medal winners for their valiant tank topping in Tokyo. A grateful nation of queer women thanks you. Showing up (in a tank top) is winning in itself.

Erica Bougard, USA, Heptathlon

Like, I can’t do one sport right. She can do seven. In a tank top. Looking like a damn renaissance painting. Whew.

Irish Magno, Philippines, Boxing

I’d like to thank boxing for making contestants wear tank tops. That is all. (Irish in red)

Melanie Henique, France, Swimming

I’ve long maintained swimsuits are just tank tops that don’t know when to quit. I stand by my decision.

Samantha Stosur, Australia, Tennis

I’ve long maintained skirts are silly and sexist for tennis players. But I will praise the tank tops. (Samantha on left right)

Rut Castillo, Mexico, Rhythmic Gymnastic

Rut is the only out Mexican-born Olympic athlete competing this year. Her tattoo says “liberty.” Also, leotards are dry-land swimsuits that don’t know when to quit, hence are also tank tops.

Rowie Webster, Australia, Water Polo

See: Swimsuit Rule. Also, the helmet somehow sets off the tank nicely.

Rachele Bruni, Italy, Marathon Swimming

So you can’t really see the tank/swimsuit, but you can see her arm. So, you’re welcome.

Kayla Miracle, USA, Wrestling

Yes, obviously, a singlet counts. I will not be taking additional questions at this time.

Michelle-Lee Ahye, Trinidad & Tobago, Track & Field

I can’t tell if this is a singlet or not, but either way it counts.

Annie Guglia, Canada, Skateboarding

I LOVED the inclusion of skateboarding these Games. And if you watched the women’s competition, you’ll have seen perhaps the best example of sportsmanship and rooting for each other I’ve ever seen at the Olympics. Also, there were a few tank tops.

Laurel Hubbard, New Zealand, Weightlifting

Laurel was the first out transgender atheletes to compete in the Olympics. And while she didn’t medal, her presence was historic and hopefully goes a long way toward dispelling the myth of unfair advantages for trans athletes.

Paola Egonu, Italy, Volleyball

This photo is helping me get over my trauma of painful volleyball gym sessions and red wrists.

Senni Salminen, Finland, Triple Jump

Senni competed alongside fellow out contestant and eventual Gold medalist/World Record setter Yulimar Rojas, coming in sixth. So hopefully they shared a secret handshake afterward together.

Rashida Ellis, USA, Boxing

I didn’t watch any of the women’s boxing this year and I’m starting to feel like that was a mistake. (Rashida in red)

Meghan O’Leary & Ellen Tomek, USA, Rowing

I am eternally grateful that most rowers wear tank tops. (Meghan & Ellen front two)

Kendall Chase, USA, Rowing

No, Kendall didn’t end up medaling either. No U.S. women’s (or men’s) rowers. But, as always we appreciate the effort and tank tops. (Kendall center)

Ann Wauters (12), Marjorie Carpréaux (9), Kim Mestdagh (5), Belgium, Basketball

Only the USA has more out women’s basketball stars, at 5, compared to Belgium’s four. (Not Pictured: Julie Allemand, also super gay)

Alison van Uytvanck, Belgium, Tennis

To make up for missing one of Belgium’s best above, here’s one for the Belgian ginger lovers.

Caitlin Rooskrantz, South Africa, Gymnastics

Again, I will not stand for leotard tank top erasure.

Aoife Cooke, Ireland, Marathon

I just hope they have Olympic-level sunscreen at these events for these athletes in the infernal heat. Think of the Irish athletes, please.

Geisa Arcanjo, Brazil, Shot Put

Geisa competed alongside Raven. So, hopefully, they shared the out Olympians handshake, too. Or better yet, an out Olympians booty shake because they’re all winners in my book.

Silvana Lima, Brazil. Surfing

Surfing was added to the schedule this year and I should have watched surfing on the schedule this year. Regrets, I have some. At least there are pictures.

My apologies to all the out Olympians whose team uniforms aren’t tank tops and didn’t make the collection. Though, obviously, if any would like to send me pictures of themselves in tank tops I will happy include you for purely scientific reasons. Cheers, Team Rainbow. You did us all proud.

My Weekend (Olympic Medalists) Crush

This year has already been the most rainbow-filled Olympics yet, with demonstrative queerness across the Games as athletes get loud and proud. It’s also the largest contingent of out LGBTQ+ athletes, which is now at 182 and counting. It should be noted some 164 of those are female or nonbinary athletes competing on women’s teams, so while lesbians and other queer woman are doing their part for visibility, the fellas still have a little ways to go. (Not you, Tom Daley and your knitted sweaters. You’re doing great, keep up the good gay work.)

Honestly, there are so many exceptional queer female athletes to keep track of in Tokyo this year, I simply can’t list them all like in the bad old closeted Olympics days. So instead I’ve gotten selective. So these are your out queer female (and non-binary) medal winners. It’s truly exciting to see the progress in visibility out LGBTQ athletes have made since I started watching the Games as a young girl. Indeed the days of only nudge-wink knowing about certain athletes is close (though not entirely, I see you Sam Kerr and gal pal Kristie Mewis) to being over.

While certain sports are still deciding their medalists (we see you women’s basketball, field hockey, handball & soccer who are handing out hardware after my bedtime/this post publishes). I’ll update through the weekend with additional winners. They’re here, they’re queer, and they’re packing serious hardware. No, not like that. I mean, at least that wasn’t what I was referring to. AHEM.

3X3 BASKETBALL

Stefanie Dolson, USA, Gold

ARCHERY

Lucilla Boari, Italy, Bronze (Individual)

BASKETBALL [ETA]

Diana Taurasi (12) & Sue Bird (6), USA, Gold

Breanna Stewart (10), Brittney Griner (15), Chelsea Gray (8), USA, Gold

BMX FREESTYLE

Hannah Roberts, USA, Silver

BOXING

Kellie Harrington, Ireland, Gold [ETA]

(left in red)

Nesthy Petecio, Philippines, Silver (Featherweight)

FENCING

Astrid Guyart, France, Silver (Women’s Team Foil)

(second from left)

FIELD HOCKEY [ETA]

Anne Veenendaal, Netherlands, Gold

(center)

Leah Wilkinson & Sarah Jones, Britain, Bronze

(yes, they’re a couple)

Susannah Townsend, Britain, Bronze

HANDBALL [ETA]

Alexandra Lacrabère, France, Gold

Amandine Leynaud, France, Gold

(left getting smooched)

JUDO

Amandine Buchard, France, Gold (Mixed team), Siver (52kg)

Jasmin Grabowski, Germany, Bronze (Mixed Team)

Raz Hershko, Israel, Bronze (Mixed Team) [ETA]

Sanne van Dijke, Netherlands, Bronze (70kg)

ROWING

Emma Twigg, New Zealand, Gold (Single Sculls)

Katarzyna Zillmann, Poland, Silver (Quadruple Sculls)

(last on right)

RUGBY

Kelly Brazier & Gayle Broughton, New Zealand, Gold

Portia Woodman & Ruby Tui, New Zealand, Gold

SAILING

Jolanta Ogar, Poland, Silver (Women's 470)

(front in pair)

SOCCER

Kadeisha Buchanan, Canada, Gold [ETA]

Stephanie Labbé, Canada, Gold [ETA]

Erin McLeod & Kailen Sherida, Canada, Gold [ETA]

Quinn, Canada, Gold [ETA]

(first trans non-binary medalist/Gold medalist in Olympic history)

Caroline Seger, Sweden, Silver [ETA]

Magda Eriksson, Sweden, Silver [ETA]

Lina Hurtig, Sweden, Silver [ETA]

Hedvig Lindahl, Sweden, Silver [ETA]

Tierna Davidson, USA, Bronze

Adrianna Franch, USA, Bronze

Kelley O’Hara, USA, Bronze

Megan Rapinoe, USA, Bronze

SOFTBALL

Ally Carda & Amanda Chidester, USA, Silver

Haylie McCleney, USA, Silver

Larissa Franklin, Canada, Bronze

Joey Lye, Canada, Bronze

(last on left)

SWIMMING

Ana Marcela Cunha, Brazil, Gold (10km)

Erica Sulliva, USA, Silver (1500m freestyle)

(left of Ledecky)

TRACK & FIELD

Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela, Gold (Triple Jump)

Raven Saunders, USA, Silver (Shot Put)

VOLLEYBALL [ETA]

Ana Carolina, Brazil, Silver

Free drinks at any lesbian bars these medalists roll up to for life, amirite? Go Team Rainbow! Happy Gold, Silver and Bronze weekend, all.

p.s. Well, now that the Tokyo Games are officially in the history books, here is a look at Team Rainbow by the numbers. The female and non-binary out queer athletes at these Games won 23 golds, 16, silvers and 13 bronzes, making for a grand total of 52 medals. That puts LGBTQ+ female or non-binary athletes at 52 total medals, placing them solidly in No. 6 in the medal counts by country, between the Athletes Formerly Known as Russia and Australia. Like I was saying, free beers forever, Olympic medalists. Next round is on us.

p.p.s. This is a reminder, young queers everywhere, that we live in a world where a five-time Olympic gold medalist and her gold-and-bronze Olympic medalist fiancee celebrated their success by kissing on national television and it was beautiful and for a moment nothing hurt.