Ellia Green is First Olympian to Come Out as Trans Man

Ellia Green, Australian rugby gold medalist, became the first trans, Olympian man after announcing his transition earlier in August. Six years after his recent gold in the 2016 Olympics, Green expresses his endless gratitude and excitement for his future post-transition.

Green first announced his transition in a video shot for the Bingham Cup International Summit in a collective effort to combat transphobia and homophobia in sports. He has continued to be an outspoken advocate for trans rights in the athletic world and beyond, stating that “I just knew it was going to be the most liberating feeling when I had that surgery and when I started to take the steps towards being in the body I know I’m meant to be in.”

In the video, he expands on the struggles he faced as an athlete and as a trans person, feeling trapped even within the sport he used as a method of escape.

After not being selected to participate on the women’s rugby team in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Green took the time to truly focus on his needs both on a team and as an individual. This served as the turning point for him, where he fully devoted himself to becoming the person he knew he was since his childhood.

Now a father to his daughter, Waitui, and partner to Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, Ellia has nothing but pride for his journey and his community. He remains an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and recognition in the wake of anti-trans legislation within the athletic community and beyond. Reflecting on his decision and the ways in which it has continued to improve his outlook on life, Green says that his final gender-affirming surgery “was definitely something that was a bright spark in my mind during these dark times.”

Ellia Green is the first transgender man in Olympic history. In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner came out as a trans woman and announced her transition after her Olympic gold medal win in 1976. Quinn, a Canadian women’s soccer player, now goes by one name and is trans and nonbinary.

Green is part of a new wave of trans support and representation within the athletic community in response to anti-trans policy, and we couldn’t be happier to see him pursuing his truth!

Photo courtesy of Ellia Green on Instagram