Olympic Athletes Who Led Secret Double Lives
Published -
- June 30, 2018
- 2:00 pm
Many Olympic athletes admit that they channel “alter egos” as a performance boost, like how sprinter Justin Gatlin reportedly conjures the villainous “J Gat” when it’s time to dig deep and go for the gold.
But then there are those who unwittingly wind up living double lives at some point in their careers – for better or worse. From public scandals to hidden talents, let’s look at the many Olympic competitors who, for one reason or another, found themselves living a double life…
Nicole Bobek | 0:30
Caitlyn Jenner | 1:36
Gus Kenworthy | 2:23
​Marion Jones | 3:12
Greg Louganis | 4:05
Chris Mears | 4:51
Can you give examples of other Olympic athletes who led secret double lives?
The Olympic Games are an incredible spectacle, with athletes from all over the world coming together to compete in a variety of sports. However, for some athletes, their Olympic experience is just one side of their life. Many athletes have led secret double lives, keeping their true identities hidden from fans and the media.
One example of this is former American decathlete Bruce Jenner. Jenner won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but behind closed doors, he was struggling with his gender identity. In 2015, Jenner came out as transgender, revealing that she had been living as a woman for many years.
Another Olympic athlete who led a secret double life was East German swimmer Kornelia Ender. Ender won four gold medals at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but it was later revealed that she had been a victim of the East German state-sponsored doping program. Ender was given steroids without her knowledge or consent, and the drugs had long-term health consequences for her.
In 2016, British boxer Nicola Adams won her second gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. But outside of the boxing ring, Adams led a secret double life as a lesbian. She later came out publicly, becoming the first openly gay person to win an Olympic gold medal.
Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but his medal was later stripped after he threw it on the mat in protest. Abrahamian was angry because he believed he had been denied a gold medal due to biased judging. However, it was later revealed that Abrahamian had also been involved in a secret gambling ring.
Finally, Chinese diver Wu Minxia won three gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012. However, it was later revealed that she had been hiding a secret from the public – her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but Wu had not been allowed to tell anyone due to strict rules imposed by the Chinese diving team.
These examples show that Olympic athletes are not just the people we see on television competing in various sports. They are real people with real lives, and for some, their Olympic experience is just one part of their story. Whether it’s struggling with identity or dealing with personal tragedies, these athletes show that there is more to life than just the pursuit of sporting excellence.
