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Writer's pictureMykel Montana Hilliard

Amandine Buchard Becomes First Openly Gay Olympian to Win a Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Sports News

The LGBTQ+ competitors at the Paris 2024 Olympics are thriving right now. While it may only be a week into the competition several competitors from around the globe have obtained medals in a wide range of competitive fields.



France's Amandine Buchard after winning judo bronze | Jack Guez / AFP via Getty Images

Amongst the list of competitors includes French judo practitioner Amandine Buchard became the first out gay Olympian to win a medal at the Paris Olympic games. 


She secured the bronze medal in the -52kg category in a marathon match against Hungarian competitor Reka Pupp.


Buchard’s and Reka’s face-off went on for four minutes before Buchard secured the win taking Reka down to her knees in tears.




Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports

At the Grand Palais,  Lauren Scruggs won a silver medal in the women’s foil competition where she lost to fellow American teammate Lee Kiefer, 15-6, in the gold-medal match. This marked the first time two Americans faced off in the final at the Olympics.


Prior to the official start of the Olympic Games she was ranked No. 11 in the world in women’s foil by the International Fencing Federation. 

Tom Daley and Noah Williams pose with silver medals in Paris on July 29. PHOTO: SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP VIA GETTY


British diver Tom Daley returned to the Olympics this year where he secured his fifth medal, and first silver medal, in the synchronized diving 10m platform competition.


Perris Benegas with her girlfriend Mikaela Herres | Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports

Perris Benegas, won her first Olympic medal, receiving silver in the women's BMX freestyle for Team USA. Following her performance photographers snapped Benegas and girlfriend  Mikaela Herres’ celebratory kiss. 






Australia’s Natalya Diehm joins Benegas as one out of two out athletes to win a medal in the Women's BMX Freestyle event winning a Bronze medal. 

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (11) celebrates with teamate. | Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

New Zealand’s own Portia Woodman-Wickliffe took home gold for Gold for their women's rugby team and led her team to its second gold medal in a row. Woodman-Wickliffe previously revealed this would be her final international match.





Olivia Apps, Sophie de Goede, Maddy Grant, took home silver for the Canadian women's rugby team beating Australia in the semifinals to make it to the gold medal game against New Zealand before being defeated. 



Stay tuned for more Paris 2024 coverage. 

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