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In that conversation, everyone voiced they are in fact out and shared their stories of what it has been like to be LGBTQ+ within the wrestling community. Last year, Wrestle Like A Girl ( WLAG) hosted a Conversation of Hope – Wrestling with Pride discussion panel with Miracle, Burkert, and also NYC Regional Training Center’s Head women’s wrestling coach Emma Randall, 2X Senior World BRONZE medalist Alyssa Lampe, National Team member Abby Nette, and 2008 NCAA Champion Mike Pucillo. To Miracle’s point about advocates that came before her, she is certainly not the first openly out wrestler! World Team member and WCAP wrestler Jenna Burkert has been an out wrestler that many young athletes have looked to for openness and acceptance. Enhancing the statement that wrestling IS for everyone. This statement is a testament to how the wrestling community and USA Wrestling as an institution has come through in terms of inclusivity. We reached out to Miracle about her thoughts on this historic achievement and what it means to her. That situation considered, Miracle is truly the FIRST. For the sake of history and facts, Lee’s moment will not go unnoted!
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She also tested positive in 2009 and thus had to “forfeit any medals, points or prizes dating back to her positive test”. After Lee won 2-0 in the Best-Of-3 over Ali Bernard at the Olympic Team Trials, Lee tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol acid ( THC), a marijuana metabolite. With Miracle preparing for the biggest athletic competition one could reach, the Olympic Games, her confidence as “first” will have even more of a positive influence on gay acceptance within the sport.īefore we go on, it should be noted that there was one athlete before Miracle that attained “First Out Olympian” status and that was Stephanie Lee in 2012. As more individuals like Miracle choose to publicly come out, more people, both wrestling fans and athletes, are publicly showing their excitement and support when they do. This is very exciting news not just for LGBTQ+ wrestlers, but for the wrestling community at large. New minted 2021 WFS Olympian Kayla Miracle is now the first out LGBTQ+ Olympic wrestler, man or woman!