The Canadian athletes are members of Proud Champions, an organization hoping to connect, support and inspire LGBTQI+ athletes in Europe…
Two LGBTQI+ Canadian Olympians are ready to help build a sporting world where everyone can be themselves. Figure skater Eric Radford and ski jumper Eric Mitchell have signed on as members of Proud Champions, a European network of LGBTQI+ athletes and allies.
The new initiative is a joint venture between Fier-Play and Compete Proud. The idea was born from the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Pride House, which acted as a welcoming space for LGBTQI+ athletes, fans, and their allies.
“Our goal is to ensure that the values of Pride House – respect, visibility and pride – continue long after the Games,” said Javier Raya OLY, Founder and Managing Director of Compete Proud in a press release. “Through Proud Champions, we want to empower athletes to use their voice, connect across disciplines, and find pride in their diversity.”
The network hopes to connect athletes from all walks of life to share experiences and celebrate diversity. Together they want to support inclusion and inspire queer athletes of all generations.
Proud Champions acknowledges that LGBTQI+ people still face discrimination, silence and isolation in sports. The network is launching at a time when governing sports bodies are introducing policies that require chromosome testing, largely for women’s sports, as a way to exclude trans women from competing.
At the launch event in September, Radford said “You can be more yourself when you feel safe. That’s the kind of environment we want to help create for every athlete.”
What does it mean to be a member of Proud Champions?
As members, Radford and Mitchell are committed to “defending the values of equality, respect, solidarity and visibility.” Members can range from athletes, allies, ambassadors and role models. Each must believe that sports should be a safe and inclusive space.
Other members include Belgian judo bronze medalist Charline Van Snick, French gold medal para-cyclist Marie Patouillet, Norwegian handball athlete Ola Hoftun Lillelien, French rugby player Jérémy Clamy-Edroux and more.
Who is Eric Radford?
Radford has competed at the Sochi (2014), PyeongChang (2018) and Beijing (2022) Winter Olympic Games. He has an Olympic medal in every colour and made history in 2018, becoming the first openly gay man to win gold
The skater was born in Winnipeg, but raised in the small Ontario town of Balmertown, which is about 21 hours north of Toronto. Alongside skating, he is passionate about playing the piano and is a composer. He appeared on two seasons of CBC’s Battle of the Blades and was on the final season of the UK’s Dancing on Ice where he competed with EastEnders Charlie Brookes.
The athlete has been vocal about inclusion in sports joining the Canadian Olympic Committee’s (COC) One Team initiative. He believes sharing his success as an LGBTQI+ athlete may inspire others.
Who is Eric Mitchell?
Alberta Olympian Eric Mitchell, competed at the Vancouver 2010 games when he was 17 years-old. He was the youngest man on the Canadian Olympic team and one of the youngest on the ski jumping field.
The athlete only competed in one Winter Games, retiring before Sochi to focus on his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He was a founding member of the COC’s One Team initiative. He now lives in Switzerland.
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