Robyn Lambird Becomes First Nonbinary Athlete to Earn Paralympics Medal

Robyn Lambird made history in this year’s Paralympics, becoming the first out, nonbinary athlete to earn a medal. Lambird took home a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter T34 wheelchair sprint on August 29.

They are the second trans and nonbinary person to medal in the history of the Olympics and the Paralympics, finishing just seconds behind two record-breaking times.

There are a record number of out, LGBTQ athletes competing in this year’s Paralympics, which continue through next week. Since the initial list of 23 out athletes, Outsports added 11 more to their list.

This year, the Olympics have hosted their first openly trans and nonbinary competitors, with the Paralympics following suit, providing representation for the millions of trans folks watching the athletes around the world.

“I’ve been really training hard for the past six years, so to end up on the podium really would really be a dream come true,” Lambird said in an interview in August. That dream came true, with their finishing time of 18.68 seconds. Their time followed silver medal winner Briton Kare Adenegan at 17.03 seconds and gold medal winner Hannah Cockroft, with her record-breaking, gold medal win clocking in at 16.39 seconds.

“It is my first (Paralympic) Games, it’s been almost a 10-year dream so to be here and to win a medal among the best in the world … it’s awesome,” Lambird said after the race. They also added a message to youth tuning into the games: “I just want to show all the kids out there—with disabilities or not—if you have a dream, chase it. There’s always a way, and you can find that way.”

Lambird was honored with fellow Australian Maz Strong and the United States’ Laura Goodkind as the first out trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse athletes to complete in the Paralympics.

In the 2021 Tokyo Games, New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard, United States’ Alana Smith, and Canada’s Quinn were the first out trans and nonbinary athletes to compete in Olympic history. Queen went on to become the first trans Olympian to win a gold medal (or any medal), with Canada’s women’s soccer win

Photo courtesy of Robyn Lambird on Instagram