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The 2021 (er…2020?) Olympics are underway in Tokyo, and there are more out LGBTQ athletes vying for gold than in every previous Summer Olympics combined. That amounts to over 160 members of “Team LGBTQ” from around the world. Each day during the games, we’ll spotlight one of these inspiring athletes.
On the chopping block for team Ireland is bisexual Taekwondo star Jack Wooley.
“A lot of the top athletes would be from different kinds of backgrounds, so you can’t be too open about it,” he told Extra.ie last year. “I have had some opponents who wouldn’t shake my hand and I’m just thinking, ‘You need to cop on’.
“Some have, though. One of the top fighters in the world came up to shake my hand after I won the European silver. I appreciated that.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And anyhow, the whole labeling thing isn’t so important to Jack.
“I just wish I never labeled it,” he confessed. “I still don’t like labeling it. People are just hell-bent on giving everyone labels nowadays. I don’t want to be that. I want to be the first Irish Olympian in my sport, the lad from Tallaght who went to the Olympics, not Jack the gay athlete.”
Still, Woolley realizes the visibility he’s created among athletes and understands that it can inspire others to live openly. “Maybe it can be good, maybe I can be an inspiration to some young people. And if someone wants to talk to me about what they are going through, they can but I’m not throwing it in your face.”
Head here to see all the athletes featured so far.
Ready, set, FIGHT:
ingyaom
I watched some of the taekwondo matches and did not see anyone flying through the air like this.
shanek
Ha! Let’s add a medal for air time !
Fahd
His flexibility is very impressive. What does “you need to cop on” mean in Irish English?
rock9221
“Cop on” (which is English) when used as it was here by an Irish person means “Stop being a jerk, be mature, be an adult.”
He in effect said, “You need to grow up” referring to the person who treated him badly. It is not a phrase I hear much beyond Ireland, so that usage is mainly localized.
Fahd
@Rock9221
Thanks! Appreciate your reply.
Vince
Wish I could bend like that.
Jake123
G’wan Jack make Ireland Proud!!
PerhapsYesNoMaybe
Cool.
Cam
Good for him for being out.
My only issue is, that old “No labels” crowd don’t seem to mind other labels like “Irish”, “Olympian”, “Athlete” etc.
The only labs they seem to not like have to do with being LGBTQ. I wish people could get rid of that last bit of fear around that.
TomG
Some would not shake his hand? That sucks because no matter what anyone tries to make you believe we are ALL human beings.
scotty
go on then lad. good on you. you can “throw it in my face” anytime thank you and good form. carry on.