TOKYO (AP) — Canadian soccer participant Quinn grew to become the primary brazenly transgender athlete to take part within the Olympics after they began on Wednesday evening for Canada’s 1-1 draw with Japan in Sapporo.

Quinn, who’s nonbinary and makes use of they and them pronouns, got here out as transgender final 12 months.

“I really feel proud seeing `Quinn’ up on the lineup and on my accreditation,” Quinn stated about their emotions on Instagram. “I really feel unhappy figuring out there have been Olympians earlier than me unable to reside their fact due to this world. I really feel optimistic for change. Change in legislature, Modifications in guidelines, constructions, and mindsets.”

Quinn was additionally a member of the Canadian workforce that received bronze on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, in accordance with the Related Press.

“Largely, I really feel conscious of the realities,” they continued. “Trans ladies being banned from sports activities. Trans ladies going through discrimination and bias whereas attempting to pursue their Olympic goals. The combat isn’t near over … and I’ll rejoice once we’re all right here.”

Quinn is not the one transgender athlete collaborating within the Tokyo Olympics.

Laurel Hubbard, a transgender lady, is competing in weightlifting for New Zealand.

Chelsea Wolfe, a transgender bike owner, is a reserve on the U.S. ladies’s BMX Freestyle workforce.

In keeping with the AP, since 2004, the Worldwide Olympic Committee has allowed transgender athletes to take part within the Olympics.

However none had achieved so brazenly till this 12 months.