South African Olympic Archer Karen Hultzer Comes Out as Lesbian

South African Olympic archer Karen Hultzer recently came out as a lesbian to SB Nation. Hultzer’s coming out brings the number of out Olympians competing in London to 22, according to SB Nation's tally.

There were only 10 out athletes at the Bejing Games in 2008, and 11 at the Sydney Olympics in 2004.

Hultzer is the first archer to come out, and only the second out South African Summer Olympian after Leigh-Ann Naidoo, a beach volleyball player who competed in the 2004 games.

Hultzer told SB Nation:

"I am an archer, middle aged and a lesbian. I am also cranky before my first cup of coffee. None of these aspects define who I am, they are simply part of me. I am fortunate that my sexual identity is not an issue, and I don’t suffer the level of discrimination and violence that black lesbians in South Africa do. I look forward to the day when this is a non-issue and as relevant as my eye color or favorite sushi."

Hultzer was the only South African competing in archery. In Monday’s round of 64 in the individual competition, she lost 6-2 to Italian Pia Lionetti, meaning she was eliminated from the individual competition.

Photo via Facebook.

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