Pride House 2024 Team Ambassadors
Amazin LeThi
‘Thrilled to blaze trails as the first Asian athlete ambassador for Pride House Paris 2024 Olympics, my commitment is unwavering in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Partnering with Pride House, I’ll fiercely advocate for LGBTQ equality at the Olympic Games. As a proud visible, queer, Asian athlete, I aspire to ignite a spark in fellow Asian athletes, urging them to embrace authenticity both on and off the playing field’
Amazin LeThi is a global LGBTQ icon, celebrated for her global impact as a speaker, LGBTQ advocate, athlete, and leader in cultural change and social justice. As an unrivalled Asian LGBTQ Athlete with over seven international LGBTQ sports ambassador roles, she fearlessly dismantles barriers. Recognised by over 30 international organisations, including the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD, Amazin earned the title of Honorary Citizen of the State of Georgia for her impactful advocacy and community work in the South. Forbes magazine spotlighted her during ‘Asian Pacific Islander Heritage’ month, identifying her as one of the top six Asian women to watch.
A luminary in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Amazin LeThi commands attention as a sought-after guest speaker, advisor, and consultant for Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global entities. Her influence spans from the White House to The Prince’s Trust, where she guides advocacy across human rights, DEI strategies, sports, and LGBTQ rights. A catalyst for cultural metamorphosis, her compelling dialogues unveil a profound journey from homelessness to a global LGBTQ icon. Pioneering both Asian and LGBTQ equality, she played a pivotal role in President Biden’s ‘Out For Biden’ 2020 campaign as their digital advisor for LGBTQ and Asian communications, reinforcing a message of inclusivity and transformative change.
In 2023, Amazin asserted her narrative in Florence Schechter’s debut book ‘V,’ published by Penguin Books, solidifying her as a prominent voice in the global conversation on equality and inclusion. In 2024, Amazin became the first Asian ambassador for Pride House Paris 2024 Olympics.
Anne-Laure Delatte
Anne-Laure Delatte is an associate researcher at CNRS associated with Dauphine PSL University and a member of the General Council of the Banque de France.
She headed the macro team at CEPII, a research centre of the Prime Minister’s Office, and was Deputy Director of the centre from 2016 to 2020; she was a member of the Conseil d’analyse économique from 2017 to 2019 and was a visiting professor at Princeton University between 2014 and 2016.
She was actively involved in the presidential and legislative campaigns in 2022 and 2024 and continues to engage in close dialogue with political parties and NGOs.
Anne-Laure has built up an international reputation and is regarded as a specialist in financial and European issues.
She created the podcast ‘Un shot d’Éco’ and wrote a monthly column for Libération for 8 years.
She published ‘l’état de droit dans le mur’ in 2023 and is now a member of the ‘On n’arrête pas l’éco’ team on France Inter on Saturday mornings.
She plays basketball with the Comxte team, which has been changing the place of women in public spaces since 2021, kitesurfing in windy conditions and recently discovered rock climbing. In short, a day without sport is not worth living.
I was delighted to agree to be an ambassador to show that you can be a lesbian and a researcher at the CNRS 😉 and, more generally, that you can love who you want, be who you want and have the job of your dreams!
It even goes with that: the happier you are in life, the more successful you’ll be in everything!
My message to you all: be aligned with who you are at heart and everything will be easier. Finally, I agreed to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, to affirm that we have the right to love whoever we want and to send love to all athletes – and especially to those at the Olympic Games.
Astrid Guyart
“An athlete needs to be fully himself to perform, and should no longer feel obliged to hide any part of his identity. The world of sport must now set an example when it comes to inclusion, respect and fraternity. “
Astrid Guyart is a fencer and Olympic foil vice-champion.
A former world number 2, she has won over 30 international medals. A World Cup gold medallist, she is also World and European team vice-champion and French champion.
Alongside her Olympic career, Astrid is also an engineer in the aerospace industry, working on the European Ariane 6 rocket. She is the author of a collection of children’s books entitled “Les incroyables rencontres de Jo” (Jo’s incredible encounters), focusing on the values of sport and its great champions. Committed to serving the general interest of sport and preparing for the Games this summer, she is Secretary General of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), co-chair of the CNOSF’s High-Level Athletes Commission and a member of the Athletes Commission of the Paris 2024 Games Organizing Committee.
Maho BAH VILLEMAGNE
BAH VILLEMAGNE Maho, 30, is a computer scientist with the French air and space force and has been a boxer with Collectif Boxe Massilia for 7 years.
After a 6-year career in women’s boxing, in which I was part of the French military team and won the titles of French military champion and French national vice-champion, I decided to take full responsibility for myself. I couldn’t hide any longer, I couldn’t go through the medical stage of my transition. So I did it, and then I asked to compete in the men’s boxing category. After long deliberation, the English Boxing Federation accepted in May 2024. I am the first boxer in France and Europe to obtain this right.
The reasons for my commitment to Pride House are simple and clear. To raise the profile of trans people in high-level sport, to spread the word, to inform people about the existence of trans people in high-level sport – often trans people hide because they are not allowed to take part in competitions… There are no or very few trans people taking part in competitive sports for a variety of reasons and discrimination. And above all, there is no legislation governing this issue, and no sports federation is aligned on this element. I hope this will change.
Campbell Harrison
“Pride House’s message of inclusivity and diversity in elite sport is important to me. I think that everyone should have the opportunity to feel safe within sporting spaces, and the work of organisations like Pride House is imperative to this goal, and I’m proud to be aligned with their mission.”
Campbell Harrison is an openly-queer professional Sport Climber and qualified 2024 Olympian from Melbourne Australia. Campbell has been climbing since 2006, and has been a member of the Australian National Climbing Team since 2012. Over the years he won numerous national titles and travelled all over the globe throwing his hat in the ring with the world’s best climbers on the international competition circuit. He fell in love with climbing as an athletic pursuit, dedicating his life to his training, and through this has discovered all of the other wonderful facets of the climbing community. Climbing for him has been a space in which he can flourish as a queer person, and he hopes to share this empowerment with the greater sporting community through initiatives like Pride House.
Edênia Nogueira Garcia
“Brazil is the country that kills the most trans and travesti people in the world, with this harsh reality in our community, I am a fierce advocate for fighting for our right to exist and live. Being an ambassador of Pride House · Paris 2024 is another action of affirmation towards a more diverse and equal world for everyone.”
Edênia Nogueira Garcia (born April 30, 1987, in Crato) is a Brazilian Paralympic swimmer. She competes in categories for people with physical disabilities, representing the Brazilian team since 2001. She has participated in five editions of the Paralympic Games, in addition to achieving victories in the Parapan American Games and World Championships.
She was the first Brazilian athlete, among both Olympians and Paralympians, to achieve a triple world championship. At the end of 2019, at the Swimming World Championships in London, she achieved another unprecedented feat by becoming a four-time world champion – a title that no other Brazilian woman has yet attained.
In World Championships, the Paralympic swimmer has amassed 17 medals (05 gold, 09 silver, and 04 bronze) and three in Paralympic Games (02 silver and 01 bronze).
In addition to being a swimmer, Edênia is also known for giving motivational speeches. In 2019, during the Parapan American Games in Lima, she publicly spoke for the first time, in an interview with the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, about her sexual orientation.”
Gema Hassen-Bey
Paralympic athlete Gema Hassen-Bey, who won the first fencing medal for our country in the Barcelona Games 92, has taken part in five consecutive Games and was bearer of the torch in the Athens Games 2004. She is now preparing to be the first woman to reach the top of Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair – a physical, technological and social entrepreneurship project promoted by the association Bey proAction, which intends to develop a mountain Handbyke that helps open the sport to inclusive MTB and facilitate the mobility and enjoyment of nature for people with disabilities. Through www.diverscity.es she will share her experiences in this pioneering challenge. Her motto of life is “If you move, the world moves with you”, which he hopes can convey that there are no limitations and we can all reach our goals.
Guillaume Cizeron
“I am honored to be a Pride house ambassador because, for me, Pride house represents possibility. I want the athletes around the world to see that it is possible to be an athlete and to be out and proud. That it is possible to not only be accepted, but celebrated, for who you are. “
Gus Kenworthy
“I’m very excited and proud to see this Pride House be brought to life at the Paris Games. For too long queer people have been isolated in sport, forced to compete in the closet and hide ourselves, or, in many cases, have stopped pursuing sport because of a feeling of not belonging. This is a massive step towards radical acceptance and inclusivity and I couldn’t be more honored to be an ambassador and to cheer on the fierce LGBTQ athletes competing this year!”
Gus Kenworthy is a British-American freeskier, actor, model and advocate.
Born in Chelmsford, England, Gus moved to the U.S. when he was two years old and began skiing shortly after in his hometown of Telluride, CO. At 16, Gus was discovered by the international skiing world when he posted a one-minute video of himself on the slopes of Telluride. The video received a lot of attention and sponsors came knocking; his professional career took off.
Kenworthy is known as one of the best all-around park skiers of all time and is one of the only athletes to have podium finishes across all three disciplines (slopestyle, halfpipe and big air) and was the first person to do many groundbreaking tricks in each.
In 2014, Kenworthy won a silver medal for Team USA at the inaugural slopestyle of the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. During those Games he gained international recognition after he saved three stray puppies and their mother from euthanization, drawing attention to the plight of rescue animals.
In 2015, Gus came out on the cover of ESPN Magazine and became the first openly gay professional athlete in any action sport.
At the 2018 Olympics, Kenworthy made history by becoming the first openly gay man (alongside Adam Rippon) to compete for the U.S. in a Winter Olympics. During those Games in Pyeongchang, Gus kissed his then boyfriend on live television, which was a significant moment for the visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes and sport communities alike.
Gus had dabbled in acting with cameos on The Real O’Neals, Will and Grace and Olympic Dreams but in 2019 he landed a series regular role on Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: 1984. He has also appeared on such shows as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Conan, Drop the Mic, Celebrity Family Feud, Hollywood Medium, GMA, The Today Show, Larry King, The Challenge and Coming Out Colton, well as been a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay. In January 2023, Kenworthy was a contestant on FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. He also appeared alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field in Paramount’s 80 for Brady.
He has appeared on the cover of ESPN: The Magazine, The Advocate, Attitude, Gay Times, Man of Metropolis, OUT, People, Purist, Vulkan magazines and has been featured in Architectural Digest, ESPN’s The Body Issue, GQ, Interview, Paper and Vogue.
Gus is an ambassador for Prada, Monster Energy, Smith Optics, Atomic Skis, Beam, CANN and MASTERS App. In 2022, Kenworthy started the Worthy Foundation, a 501c3, to give back to the LGBTQ+ community. No stranger to activism, Gus participated in the AIDS/LifeCycle ride, a 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2019, raising $249,745 for the organization. He works with the Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth; Happy Hippie Foundation, aiding and focusing on homelessness and LGBTQ+ rights; GLSEN, working to ensure that LGBTQ+ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment; as well as The Humane Society International, working around the globe to promote the human-animal bond and confront cruelty in all its forms.
Kenworthy resides in Los Angeles, CA with his dog Birdie.
Javier Raya
“I’m truly excited for this collaboration with Pride House to come to life and for my project Compete Proud to have a real impact. It’s unique that the team will take part in such an amazing opportunity, bringing closer to the Games the conversation around diversity and inclusion in sport.”
Former Figure Skater. Olympian. IOC Young Leader. Founder of Compete Proud.
Javier Raya is an Olympic figure skater from Spain. He has competed at the highest international level for over 15 years, being finalist at Europeans and World Championships. With a media and communications education background, he works closely with sport institutions and athletes. Javier is passionate to develop diversity and inclusion within the sport.
Jeremy Clamy-Edroux
“I regularly visit schools, companies and training centers to raise awareness of the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people in the world of sport and beyond. I’ve also had the privilege of joining organizations such as the French Rugby Federation’s Anti-Discrimination and Equal Treatment Commission, L’Autre Cercle as a role model, and Nightline France, which works for diversity, inclusion and mental health in the professional, academic and sporting worlds.
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work with Pride House Paris. It is truly an honor to collaborate with such an inspiring organization committed to promoting equality and diversity.”
Jeremy Clamy-Edroux is a French rugby player born on January 30, 1991. He plays as a prop and has played for Massy, Racing and Rouen. In addition to his sporting career, he is known as the first French professional rugby player to have publicly announced his homosexuality. He came out in June 2021 in the document “faut qu’on parle”, a courageous gesture that has been widely acclaimed in the sporting world and beyond. His testimony is helping to break down stereotypes and promote inclusion and diversity in rugby, offering an inspiring example for many others.
Jolyn Beer
I’m very happy to be an ambassador for Pride House Paris 2024 and to be an example of diversity in my sport. It’s important for me to show that it’s possible to reach the pinnacle of elite sport and be proud of who I am.
I like the idea of Pride House as a safe space for everyone to play sport.
Jolyn Beer is a German sports shooter and one of the most decorated women in the current era of women’s shooting sports. She has won several world and European championships in individual and team events over the last decade, most recently in 2022. Jolyn finishes 6th in her first Olympic Games
Lauren Rowles
“I have spent so much of my life not being authentically me due to fear of how that would impact my sporting career and people don’t understand the detrimental impact that has on a person when they feel ashamed and excluded. Since coming out as Queer both my life on and off the water has been incredible and now I want to be visible and represent for those that look like me, feel like me and love like I do. That’s why I’m so proud to be supporting Paris 2024 Pride House to help make sport an inclusive place for us all to reach our full potential or support sport in safer environments free from homophobia and transphobia.”
Two time Paralympic, World & European Champion Lauren Rowles took up the sport of Para Rowing in 2015 after becoming disabled overnight at the age of 13 after a spinal cord injury. Lauren was inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games which kickstarted her dream of making it on to the Paralympic Podium someday. Four years on from that moment Lauren won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after a short 18 months in the sport and since then has gone on to become one of the most successful rowers in the history of the sport. Now heading towards her third Paralympic Games in Paris, Lauren is aiming to make history by becoming the first Paralympic Rower in history to win three back to back gold medals. Lauren is also a queer athlete who is passionate about increasing visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ athletes and ensuring that sport is a place for all.
Louise Guillet
Louise Guillet: the poloïste façadière!
“I share and support the values and initiatives promoted by Pride House.
It’s an opportunity to champion inclusion through sport and celebrate diversity.
I’m delighted to become a Pride House ambassador for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For me, the aim is to highlight our differences while fully accepting each other. As an athlete, I’ve been lucky enough to evolve in a sport where I haven’t felt the weight of discrimination. But that’s not always the case. It’s sometimes difficult to take responsibility, but for me, everyone should be proud of who they are, without fear or dread.”
Captain and oldest member of the French water polo team
Top-level sportswoman and future entrepreneur in the construction industry
A pioneer: 1st sportswoman in her discipline to play abroad and obtain a professional contract
An inspiring career path, and it’s with extraordinary determination that she has evolved for over 20 years in this highly demanding sport.
A top performer in Europe, she was voted Spain’s best player and champion in 2006, and the world’s top scorer in 2016.
Awarded top scorer in the French championship in 2019
In 2024, she dives into the deep end to realize her ultimate dream: playing in her first home Olympics! Before “chlorine” an exceptional career.
Louïz
“As an artist I have always been committed to the LGBTQIA+ community. To be able to be an ambassador for the PRIDE HOUSE is an honor for me because it’s important that our community can be represented and have an inclusive and safe space during the Olympic Games, a landmark event of the year 2024 in France. I’m very proud to be able to contribute my little stone to the beautiful edifice that will be Pride House • Paris 2024”.
Louïz is a transgender artist and activist from Reunion Island. A committed singer-dancer-actress, she regularly uses her art to bring visibility to the LGBTQIA+ community. Her documentary film Louïz de l’Évolution à la [R]Évolution is available for streaming on MYCANAL, the CANAL+ platform. His book “PAPILLON” published by City Éditions has been available in bookshops since November 2023.
Maïtena Alsuguren
“Even if I haven’t committed myself in the way that other Pride House ambassadors have, for me it’s above all a daily commitment to the cause of LGBTI+ inclusion that drives me in what is ultimately an “ordinary” way. I think it’s another way of setting an example for younger people. The inclusion of the youngest in singularity is what’s closest to my heart.”
I played for the French amateur team for ten years. I was European team champion in 1999 and world team champion in 2000 in Berlin (2nd ex aequo in the individual ranking).
At the same time, I pursued my studies, as I didn’t want to turn professional, and obtained a Master’s degree in economics and a DESS in sports management.
I’ve always been passionate about sport in general, and golf in particular, thanks to my father who was a teacher (I was born into it!).
I decided to get involved “backstage” in my federation. I passed the teaching exam the year I won the World Championship. I joined ffgolf that year and have never left. After a number of different assignments, I’m now Assistant National Technical Director in charge of High Level and Sports Organization. My career with the federation has also seen me captain the Jr Ryder Cup team on 2 occasions (2016 and 2018), as well as French and national team captains.
Mariana Gesteira
Being an athlete with a rare disability and LGBTQIAP+ in Brazil is an arduous mission. My unusual condition also reflects the rarity of our community’s representation in high-level sport. The paths I have taken challenge prejudice, but open doors for others to be inspired and realise their dreams. And that’s what motivates me, both in and out of the pool.
I’m very proud to be an ambassador for Pride House Paris 2024 and to have the opportunity to show the world the importance of diversity, inclusion and freedom in sport, with pride in who I am.
Mariana was born in the municipality of Itaboraí, in the interior of the state of Rio de Janeiro. At the age of seven, she was already taking part in aquatic competitions. At fourteen, she was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Syndrome, a rare malformation that affects the central nervous system.
nervous system. She is the only paralympic swimmer in the world to have this progressive neurological condition. Even though she has been swimming since childhood, finding the ideal workout is still a challenge due to the variability of the disease’s symptoms. The athlete has collected important medals in her career in the S9 class, including titles at the World Swimming Championships in Madeira Island in 2022 and in Manchester in 2023, as well as a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Marie Labory
I’m a journalist. Born in the Landes region of France in 1975, I studied in Bordeaux before embarking on a career as an editor with France 3.
For the past 15 years, I’ve been presenting Arte Journal every evening at 7.45pm on the cultural and European channel Arte.
To date, I’m the only openly lesbian presenter in the French audiovisual landscape.
In 2004, I took part in the creation of the first French LGBT channel, PinkTV, on which I co-presented the cultural daily Le Set with Christophe Beaugrand.
In 2023, I directed the documentary “Lesbiennes, quelle histoire?”, an exploration of the women who brought lesbian identity to life throughout the 20th century.
I’m also the mother of two boys, twins born through PMA in Spain.
If I’m happy to be an ambassador for Pride House France 2024, it’s because I know that a sporting event on the scale of the Olympic Games is the perfect opportunity to reach as many people as possible and help them understand the issues facing the LGBTQI community. What better way to understand each other than to meet and experience emotional moments together?
Fear of the other, which can lead to hatred, wallows in the idea that our worlds are too different. But on a pitch (or a dance floor!), it’s all about the same collective movement.
I believe in the values defended by Pride House, and I hope to be able to help out during this big event.
Marie Martinod
“I believe deeply in the power of example. To get involved during Pride House is simply to take advantage of the window of visibility offered by the Olympics to show the world that we can all live together while being different. “
Born in Savoie, in the middle of the Alps, Marie Martinod began her international skiing career at the age of 16, quickly reaching the top 3 in the world for several consecutive years.
She hung up her skis at the age of 21, considering her experience of top-level sport to have come to an end. She set up a business and started a family.
7 years later, half-pipe skiing became an Olympic discipline. She set herself the challenge of getting back on her skis to try and qualify.
In March 2013, at the age of 27, she won the X Games in her first season back on skis. She qualified de facto for the Olympics the following year.
She returned from Sochi in February 2014 adorned with silver and doubled her tally 4 years later at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Retired from the international circuit in 2019, she has now turned her attention to conferences and the sports media as a consultant, presenter and program host.
During the confinement period, deprived of her activities, she completed a distance learning diploma in mental preparation, which enables her to support athletes on the road to performance.
Marie Patouillet
“Since my return from Tokyo, I’ve been committed to fighting sexism and homophobia in sport in my own way. I take part in round-table discussions and campaign projects to combat homophobia.
In France, athletes from the LGBT community have virtually no place in top-level sport for a number of reasons (fear, lack of access to the top level, etc.). I feel that taking part in this global event and fulfilling the role of ambassador would give the community a little more space, and why not inspire other athletes to take the place they deserve too.
It would be with great pride that I would take on the role of ambassador.”
Marie Patouillet , 35 years old
Paralympic track and road cyclist
General practitioner
Double bronze medallist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games
Vice world champion 2024 in track (500M)
Marta Mangue
Matthew Mitcham
“I’m looking forward to connecting with other LGBTIQ+ athletes on and off the field. I hope to inspire and empower them with my story, and contribute to this initiative that provides a safe space for them”
An 18-year career in the demanding sport of Diving is a notable feat in itself, but Matthew is one of the very few athletes to complete the golden trifecta by winning the Olympic Games (2008), World Cup (2010) and Commonwealth Games (2014).
Matthew’s win in Beijing 2008 will forever stand out in history, not just for achieving the single highest dive score in Olympic history, but in coming out before his Olympic debut, he became the first ever openly gay Olympic Champion.
Since winning Gold in Beijing, Matthew has gone on to use his platform as an ambassador, speaker, and entertainer to advocate for issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Michael Gunning
Next up is former international swimmer and media host Michael Gunning. He has represented both Jamaica and Great Britain throughout his 16-year, medal-winning career, which includes 8 national records, 3 British titles, and 2 world swimming championships. Gunning is also the first openly gay swimmer in the UK and is a named Patron for the Kaleidoscope Trust, fighting for equal rights around the world.
“Sport is a better place when everyone can be their true authentic self, and I’m forever grateful for all the support that’s shaped me into the athlete and person I am today. The Olympics has an amazing way of bringing people together and will unite diverse cultures that allow us to inspire, celebrate and empower authenticity. I am excited and honoured to work with Pride House in the lead-up to Paris 2024, and I cannot wait to show everyone around the world that anything is possible.”
Nathalie & Valérie Masduraud & Urrea
“Today, in a global climate of great concern for the LGBTQIA+ community, we feel it is more than essential to support PRIDE House. Sport must above all be a place of inclusivity, awareness and representation of our differences. As lesbian artists, we are very proud to contribute to this event!”
Nathalie Masduraud & Valérie Urrea collectively sign documentary and fiction films, with a particular focus on gender and feminism. In 2021, they are conceiving and directing the manifesto series H24, 24 heures dans la vie d’une femme, 25 short fiction films inspired by real events, reporting on violence against women. A diversity of voices and talents for the creation of a unique and powerful European series, which to date has attracted over 15 million viewers on the ARTE channel and platform. Their latest project is an original re-reading of Simone de Beauvoir’s Second Sex. This feature-length documentary will bring together the words of women activists with those of exceptional personalities such as Judith Butler, Laure Murat, Kellie Carter Jackson and Silvia Federici. It is scheduled for release on ARTE in autumn 2024.
Winners of international awards, the two directors received the Etoile de la Scam in 2018 for their film Focus Iran. Their Iran#NoFilter series has won several international awards. In 2022, their film on Alice Guy won the Best documentary Aw.
Nikki Ayers Ply
My journey has not always been positive and easy. As a child being very active I had no high profile out sporting role models to look up to and know it was ok to be gay, play sport and be successful. I commit to raising awareness and providing education on why inclusion of the rainbow community is vital for all. I commit to be being a positive Pride House Ambassador for the rainbow community striving for inclusion.
Nikki Ayers PLY, Australian Paralympic Rower, World Champion
Nikki Ayers, an inspiring Para-rower and Intensive Care Nurse and Midwife from Canberra. Nikki has made a significant impact in both her sport and profession. Nikki commenced Para-rowing in 2018 after a severe rugby injury, quickly finding success and representing Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in the PR3 mixed coxed four. Nikki has had an exceptional season during 2023 in para-rowing winning gold at World Cup II in Varese and breaking the world’s best time in the PR3 Mixed Doubles category. Nikki achieved her greatest feat at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade Serbia. She secured Australia’s only Gold Medal in the PR3 Mixed Doubles category, booking a spot for Paris and emerging as a strong contender for gold. Balancing her demanding nursing career with rigorous training, Nikki is a true embodiment of resilience, drawing motivation from overcoming adversity. Nikki has also been a part of the Australian Institute of Sport ‘Thrive with Pride’ program to be a positive out role model for the rainbow community.
Nikki Symmons
“Delighted to see this announcement public. We have been working together for many months now, developing ideas to create exciting, interactive activities and showcase our work during the Games with the French public and of course the Olympic and Paralympic athletes participating”
Former international hockey player, with 13 years of elite international experience, teacher, author and LGBTQIA role model. Communications professional utilizing my life-long experience to advocate for and advance inclusion, equity, and diversity.
I am extremely proud to have established the first Global LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group (ERG), Stripes Global at my company. In 2020 I co-wrote a chapter in ‘When the World Stops Watching,’ a book about my experience as the first female athlete in Ireland to ‘come out’ publicly as gay.
As a dynamic people activator driven by the success of the team, I am a leader that values relationship building and connecting skills in both my personal and professional life, and I serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
Peter Caruth
Becoming a Pride House Ambassador for the 2024 Paris Olympics fills me with immense pride and joy. As the first Irish Olympic athlete to come out as gay, this role is profoundly significant to me, symbolizing a leap forward in inclusivity and acceptance within the sports community. In embracing my identity, I’ve come to redefine what it means to be macho; to me, it’s not about traditional notions of toughness or bravado, but rather about being fiercely competitive, dedicated, and authentic. This ambassadorial role allows me to inspire and support others in the LGBTQ+ community, demonstrating that true strength lies in being unapologetically yourself while striving for excellence in every endeavour.
Peter Caruth is an Irish field hockey player known for his dynamic skills and significant contributions to the sport in Ireland. Born on June 4, 1988, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Caruth began playing hockey at a young age and quickly demonstrated his potential reaching 148 caps for Ireland.
Caruth’s career took off when he joined Annadale Hockey Club, where he developed his foundational skills and made a name for himself in the local hockey scene. His performance at the club level earned him a spot on the Irish national team, where he debuted in 2010. Known for his speed, agility, and offensive prowess, Caruth became a key player for Ireland.
One of the highlights of Caruth’s career came during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was part of the Irish men’s field hockey team that qualified for the Olympics for the first time in over a century. This was a historic achievement for Irish hockey, and Caruth played a vital role in the team’s success.
In addition to the Olympics, Caruth has competed in various other international tournaments, including the European Championships where Ireland won a bronze medal. His contributions have been instrumental in raising the profile of field hockey in Ireland and inspiring a new generation of players.
Beyond his playing career, Caruth has been involved in coaching and mentoring young athletes, sharing his experience and passion for the game. His dedication to the sport and his country has made him a respected figure in the field hockey community.
Peter Caruth’s journey in field hockey exemplifies the dedication and talent required to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. His achievements have left a lasting impact on Irish hockey and continue to inspire future generations.
Rayan Castro Dutra
“ I’m truly happy and proud to be part of Team Brazil and to serve as an ambassador for Pride House · Paris 2024 in my first Olympic experience!”
Rayan Castro Dutra, Brazilian gymnast
Compete Proud member
Sandra Forgues
Olympic and World Champion with teammate Frank Adisson in double canoe, Sandra officially a woman since 2018 is committed to defending the rights of transgender people in sport. Also President of the Board of Directors of Creps de Toulouse, she is involved in the development of sport in the Occitanie region. In life, Sandra trained as a computer engineer, and is in charge of the Information System at France’s largest adapted company (Distribution Service Industriel), where she is committed to creating a supportive, high-performance environment for people with disabilities.
“Over the years, sport has enabled the emancipation of many people. Ethnic groups from every continent, women, people with disabilities and many other invisible or minority groups have benefited from the universal values of sport. And yet today, sport is organizing one of the biggest discriminations in the history of sport, that of transgender people, without any verifiable arguments or real facts. Pride House Paris 2024 is the ideal place to share knowledge and the truth on this subject, and to invite people to understand it and combat preconceived ideas”.
Tara Llanes
“It’s important for me to help be a voice within our LGBTQ+ community. I know as a young lesbian athlete it was difficult to come out and feel confident. I hope others can see athletes involved with Pride House Paris and feel comfortable and safe.”
A former BMX professional turned Mountain Bike professional. A Mountain Bike Downhill/Dual World Cup winner, World Championship silver and bronze medalist, 5x US National Champion, X-Games Gold medalist and 2022 BMX Hall of Fame inductee. She raced professionally for 15 years for teams such as Mt.Dew/Specialized and Giant Factory Off-Road Team. In 2007 she was paralyzed from the waist down in a Jeep King of the Mountain race in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Born and raised in Southern California she moved to North Vancouver in 2010 and is now a proud Canadian citizen.
After years of rehabilitation from her spinal cord injury and a hiatus from high level sport she began playing wheelchair tennis She quickly transitioned from tennis back to wheelchair basketball and made the Canadian women’s national team in 2018. She went on to win a ParaPan Am Games gold in 2019, qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics coming in 5th, Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, and is looking to qualify for the upcoming 2024 Paris Paralympics.
She has won the 2022 Wheelchair Basketball Canada female athlete of the year, 2022 BC Wheelchair Basketball female athlete of the year, and the 2024 North Shore Sport Awards para female athlete of the year.
She enjoys speaking on panels and at events to many young female athletes about high performance sport. After retiring from wheelchair basketball her goal is to be a high performance coach for a national team.
Be part of a unique experience!
Join the Pride House team for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
