The full list of the recorded 13 LGBTQ+ athletes competing in the World Athletics Championships.
More than 2,000 athletes from 198 countries are currently competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
Among them are 13 openly LGBTQ competitors who have been collated by queer site Outsports.
It is a record amount of LGBTQ athletes at the Championships (there were nine in 2023), and it also matches the tally from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
With the Championships running 13–21 September, here are the 13 out athletes who are competing, or have already competed, in Tokyo.
Men’s events
Ramsey Angela (The Netherlands)
Event: 4 × 400m relay
Ramsey didn’t make a public announcement about his sexuality. Instead, he posted pictures of his boyfriend on Instagram in the lead up to the 2020 Olympics.
In those Games, he claimed a silver medal as part of the 4 x 400m men’s relay team. Angela is back on the global stage after missing Paris and taking bronze at Dutch nationals this August.
When coming out he shared advice for other athletes struggling with their sexuality.
“Life is short, be yourself. If you are not yourself, that’s going to hurt,” he said.
“If you are yourself, and you present yourself as the person you want to be, people will accept that.”
Seamus Derbyshire (Great Britain)
Event: 400m hurdles
Seamus became the fifth-quickest Brit in history in the 400 metres hurdles. Openly gay, he says authenticity has unlocked his potential.
“Bringing my authentic self has brought me to a point where I feel comfortable again,” he said.
Known for his showmanship, he went viral on TikTok for a start-line routine where he flicked his hair “like Glinda from Wicked,” blew kisses and made a heart to the camera.
Seamus has already competed in Tokyo, finishing 7th in his heat and not progressing through to the semi-finals.
