Marlene Wilkerson and Kyrie Irving – 4 Years Together

Californian YouTuber and blogger Marlene Wilkerson, aka Golden, met NBA's Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving back in December 2018 when he was still with the Boston Celtics. They encountered each other at his invitational basketball camp and hit it off. Kyrie is believed to have proposed to the beautiful damsel around September 2019.

Wilkerson runs a YouTube account with over 750K subscribers where she shares her lifestyle, fashion, and beauty videos. Irving, who appeared in the 2022 series "NBA on Bally Sports," proposed after signing an enormous $141 million contract with the Nets in 2019.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian - 6 Years Together

Tennis legend Serena Jameka Williams met digital entrepreneur and investor Alexis Ohanian in 2015 in Rome. Later that same year, the couple would return to the place where they had their first chance encounter, and Ohanian proceeded to go down on one knee to an extremely emotional Williams.

The Reddit co-founder and the four-time Olympic gold medal winner staged their wedding in November 2017. The New Orleans ceremony was attended by celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian. After withdrawing from the 2021 Wimbledon Championship due to an injury,  the 23-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed a family vacation in Versailles with her husband and their three-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia.

Roger Federer and Mirka Federer - 19 Years Together

Tennis maestro Roger Federer can be spotted regularly with his wife Mirka and their four kids at various tennis tournaments. In a recent interview with the Times, the Swiss professional tennis player revealed that his marriage with Mirka would have probably ended had she not decided to hang her hat as a professional athlete.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion lauded his wife for making the selfless decision to retire to prolong his career and marriage. Mirka was a top-100 player herself before she decided to retire in 2002. The two first met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they faced off in a doubles contest.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf - 20 Years Together

After Andre Kirk Agassi divorced his actress wife, Brooke Shields, in 1999, he went on to pursue Steffi Graf. When he first sent the 22-time Grand Slam singles title-winner a handwritten note, little did he know she would actually say yes!

The two had their first date in California, around the same time when Graf was about to make her final outing as a professional tennis player. After a whirlwind romance, the two tied the knot in 2001. After a wildly successful venture in professional tennis, Agassi is currently mentoring current and future tennis prospects like Sebastian Korda.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens - 2 Years Together

In August 2020, Simone Biles introduced the whole world to the most important man in her life. The four-time Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast gushed over her new boyfriend, a 25-year-old Jonathan Owens. The two had been dating since March 2020 before going public with their relationship later on Instagram.

According to some reports, Owens had no idea who Biles was when he first met her. Rest assured, the Texas safety officer was in for a big surprise! Considered to be one of the greatest gymnasts in history, Biles is currently training at practice sessions for the Tokyo Olympics.

Amelie Mauresmo and Sylvie Bourdon - Approximately 17 years together

Since her break-up with Sylvie Bourdon, former tennis player Amélie Simone Mauresmo has been increasingly private about her love life. The former French player, who coached former world number one Andy Murray from 2014 to 2016, recently opened up about not being respected as a coach because she was a woman.

Last year, Murray also came out in her support, commenting on the community backlash the pair had received when he first started working with her in 2014. Mauresmo came out as gay at the age of 19 during the 1999 Australian Open before leaping into the loving arms of Bourdon in a very public display of affection.

Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black - 8 Years Together

Thomas Robert Daley and his husband, Dustin Lance Black, recently celebrated their eighth anniversary together by sharing adorable tributes to each other on social media. The two started dating back in 2013 and also share a son together.

Daley is an accomplished British diver and media personality with two world championships to his name in 10-meter diving. Black is a successful public figure in his own right, having directed, produced, and written for several film and television projects. He is perhaps best known for his contributions as a screenwriter for popular movies and series like J. Edgar, When We Rise, and Milk.

Lindsey Vonn and Diego Osorio - 1 Year Together

When retired Olympic skier Lindsey Caroline Vonn was first spotted with Spanish actor Diego Osorio in New York earlier in May, many suspected a romantic link-up between the two. According to some sources, the two had initially met through mutual friends a few months prior to their first public sighting.

The former American World Cup ski racer is a four-time World Cup overall champion- one of only two female skiers to have accomplished the impressive feat. Osorio is currently working as the co-owner of his tequila brand, Lobos 1707. The spirits manufacturer also has other big-name investors on board, including Michael Jordan, George Clooney, and Lebron James.

Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley - 3 Years Together

When American quarterback Aaron Charles Rodgers publicly announced his engagement to actress Shailene Woodley in February, little did the people know, they had already been engaged for several months beforehand. After keeping their engagement private for many months, they finally went public in February, fearing that a tabloid would beat them to it.

As the reigning NFL MVP, Rodgers has been embroiled in a very public spat with the management at his current team, the Green Bay Packers. Amidst salary disputes and contract disagreements, teammates like Marcedes Lewis have expressed their desire to see Rogers return.

Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra - 20 Years Together

When the then-Boston Red Sox superstar Nomar Garciaparra first made an impression on Mia Hamm in 1998 at the Harvard Stadium, he managed to woo the American soccer star despite the fact that she was already married. According to some reports, the two actually competed in a soccer shootout wherein she beat him 3-4.

Fast forward five years, and the two tied the knot after two years of dating. In 2016, the power couple bought a beach house in a Los Angeles suburb for an impressive $2.2 million. Today, Hamm works as a global ambassador for F.C. Barcelona and is a co-owner of TeamFirst Soccer Academy.

Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood - 13 Years Together

When former Canadian-American ice hockey player Michael Andrew Fisher met country star Carrie Underwood backstage at one of her concerts, it was the start of a fairytale romance. After their 2008 encounter, the two got engaged the following year before getting hitched in July 2010.

The couple recently shared a family vacation at their Colorado Ranch and have been posting regular photos and videos of their adventures together. What's on their agenda this week? Well, this past weekend, Underwood posted a bikini-clad photo of herself on a lake, enjoying an adventurous family fishing expedition.

Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton - 14 Years Together

In early 2020, retired American decathlete Ashton James Eaton and his wife Brianne Theisen, a retired track and field athlete, welcomed their first baby boy, Ander. The two-time Olympic champion met his future wife when the two were studying at the University of Oregon.

In a typical boy-meets-girl story, their first encounter was followed by another encounter years later during the 2007 Pan American Junior Athletics Championship, which led to the two sharing their first kiss. After his 2017 retirement, Eaton was recently hired by tech giant Intel for a full-time position, and he even volunteered to help kids during Intel's National Engineers Week in February.

Allyson Felix and Kenneth Ferguson - 18 Years Together

In 2021, Kenneth Ferguson took leave from his job at car manufacturer Chrysler to move his family from Michigan to Los Angeles. Being a dutiful husband, Ferguson jumped through several hoops to be with his wife, Olympic gold-medalist sprinter Allyson Felix.

The American track and field sprinter is currently staging her training camp in Los Angeles, given that most training arenas across the United States are shut down due to social restrictions. The couple first met 18 years ago in Palo Alto and have been in a romantic relationship ever since. Following their 2018 marriage, the two became parents to their soon-to-be three-year-old daughter, Camryn Grace.

Danell Leyva and Giulianna Pino - 16 Years Together

Cuban-American former gymnasts Danell Johan Leyva and Giulianna Pino have been together since February 15, 2002. After Pino came out as gay in 2018, Leyva followed her in October 2020 when he publicly announced on social media that he was no longer straight.

Despite coming out in 2018, Pino, a world-renowned gymnast, was still romantically linked to Leyva up until 2019 and is currently on the roster at UCLA. Leyva, who has previously won medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, is very active on his social media and recently showed off his toned physique while flaunting his gymnastic and soccer skills in a video stunt.

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird - 4 Years Together

When Megan Anna Rapinoe first met Sue Bird in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, the two had instant chemistry. They started dating not long after initially crossing paths at the promotional events of the Olympics. At that time, Rapinoe was engaged, although her relationship with her then-fiancée had been on shaky grounds for quite a while.

Following her split with her fiancée, Rapinoe took Bird out for their first date, later returning to her apartment where the two enjoyed music from pop band Maroon 5. The two got engaged last year in October, and recently, both of them made successful bids to qualify for the fast-approaching Tokyo Olympics.

Zach Ertz and Julie Ertz - 8 Years Together

When a blonde-haired Julie Ertz first met Zach Ertz in 2012 at a Stanford baseball game, the Arizona soccer star had no idea he was playing for the Stanford football team. Fast forward a few months, and the two enjoyed a lovely date at Chipotle during the winter.

After four years of dating, the couple returned to the place where they first met. The NFL player then went down on one knee to propose, and the two celebrated their wedding in March 2017. Ertz is currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, while Julie's representation at the upcoming Tokyo Games is still up in the air following an MCL injury.

 

 

 

 

Ian Thorpe

Former Australian swimmer Ian James Thorpe sparked controversy following his retirement in 2007 when an earlier test produced elevated testosterone levels. Although he never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, the event proved to be a sizeable blemish on an otherwise impressive career.

Thorpe's 2007 saga recently made headlines once again when the new head of FINA called for an official investigation into the five-time Olympic gold medal winners 2006-2007 drug tests. Although Australian doping officials have cleared him of any malpractice, the Aussie champion admits that the allegations have forever tarnished his reputation. In a 2014 interview, Thorpe came out as gay after several years of speculation.

 

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen - 15 Years Together

Superstar couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen recently became part owners of FTX Trading Ltd. after investing in Sam Bankman-Fried's trading empire. The partnership also means that Brady now serves as the company's exchange ambassador while his supermodel wife is FTX's social and environmental initiatives advisor.

The legendary NFL player spent his first 20 seasons as a quarterback for the New England Patriots, taking the team to new heights during the "Brady era'. He then switched to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the latter half of last year, signing a two-year contract that would see him add $50 million to his net worth.

Ana Ivanovic and Bastian Schweinsteiger - 7 Years Together

German World Champion soccer player Bastian Schweinsteiger also scored a major win in the romance department when he managed to melt the heart of the former first racket of the world, Ana Ivanovic. The two started seeing each other in 2014, and before long, news of their relationship had spread like wildfire.

After the birth of their son Luke in March 2018, the couple welcomed their second child into their world in August 2019. Ivanovic and Schweinsteiger recently celebrated their fifth anniversary as a married duo, with the latter paying tribute to his wife in a heartwarming post on Instagram.

Quinn

Formerly known as Rebecca Quinn, the transgender athlete no longer goes by a first name and is simply called Quinn, or Quinny. The professional Canadian soccer player grew increasingly frustrated with the notion of being portrayed in the mainstream media as a girl and thus decided to come out as transgender in a social media post last year.

The 26-year-old plays for the national Canadian soccer team and OL Reign as a midfielder. According to Quinn, being misgendered your whole life can definitely take a toll on someone, which is why they decided to become the voice for people who are either questioning their gender or exploring it.

Chad Unger

Chad Unger came out as gay alongside four other snowboarders in mid-2020. In an interview with Torment in June 2020, Unger was joined by several of his friends in the snowboarding community, who also come out as openly gay.

Despite being deaf, Unger has the uncanny ability to read his surroundings and the people around him better than anyone. Apart from being a talented snowboarder, he is also a gifted photographer and filmmaker. His Brighton videos are devoid of any soundtracks or background music, which is understandable since he would not be able to edit sound anyway.

J.J. Watt and Kealia Watt - 5 Years Together

In a recent throwback to the start of the fairytale romance with his now-wife Kealia Watt, Justin James Watt reposted photos of their social media exchange seven years ago. After their initial Twitter banter in 2014, the pair spent the next two years being extremely chummy on social media before being romantically linked as early as 2016.

After their engagement in 2019, the two football players read their wedding vows in February 2020. Kealia is currently playing for the Chicago Red Stars while her husband signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals for $31 million earlier in March.

 

Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry - 10 Years Married

NBA superstar Wardell Stephen "Steph" Curry II and his wife Ayesha recently opened up about what makes their union so successful. The two are set to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a married couple this month, and according to them, having an honest partnership is key. Plus, a few date nights every now and then also help keep their love life fresh.

The pair first met at a church gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, when they were much younger. Although Ayesha had a strict 'no athletes' policy when it came to dating, Curry managed to bring her around eventually. Today, they are proud parents of three kids.

Levi Davis

Former Bath winger Levi Davis recently came out to an overwhelmingly positive response and show of support from his fans. The 23-year-old announced that he was attracted to both men and women while talking to the British media. In an appearance on the BT sports network, he thanked his friends and family for their show of support following his decision.

The Neath native signed with Bath Rugby Football Club in 2017 and stayed on with the team for three years. In January 2020, he joined the Ealing Trailfinders roster on loan for the rest of the season before becoming a permanent player in August after signing a two-year deal.

Jill Perkins

Jill Perkins recently collaborated with RIDE snowboards to release their 2020 snowboard model, the RIDE Backtalk. The California native decided to take her snowboarding career to the next level when she moved to Salt Lake City in 2015 for its snow parks and steep mountains.

Perkins first took up snowboarding at the relatively older age of 17, but in just two short years, she was able to surround herself with sponsors like Monster Energy. In mid-2020, she came out as gay, together with other snowboarders, including Jake Kuzyk, Chad Unger, Kennedi Deck, and Tanner Pendleton.

Penny Taylor and Diana Taurasi - 4 Years Married

At 39 years of age, Diana Taurasi shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. After staying on the sidelines due to a back and hamstring injury, she made a triumphant comeback in 2020. Earlier this May, she suffered another injury to her chest that would see the Phoenix Mercury player sit out the following months of play.

Taurasi returned to the court late last month and became the first WNBA player to surpass 9,000 career points. Taurasi and Penny Taylor first met as teammates, eventually evolving their professional relationship into a romantic one. In 2017, they took each other as partners for life. 

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton - 9 Years Together

When baseball pitcher Justin Brooks Verlander partnered supermodel Kate Upton in 2012 for a video game commercial, things could have taken a turn for the worse when he was unknowingly walking around with a live microphone. Unbeknownst to him, the entire ensemble could hear the Houston Astros pitcher brag to his mates that he would ask for Upton's phone number.

As it turns out, the hilarious mistake actually did the trick, and he did indeed walk away with her number. The two said "I Do" in November 2017 and share an adorable two-year-old daughter together, Genevieve. The celebrity couple has an impressive combined net worth of approximately $115 million today.

 

Amanda Nunes and Nina Nunes - 9 Years Together

Hopping on to the world on mixed martial arts and Amanda Nunes is not only the UFC's number 1 pound-for-pound in the women's division, but she is also a champion of the company's bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest female fighters of all time after beating superstars like Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko.

Outside of the ring, Nunes is married to her fellow martial artist Nina Nunes, who is a contender in the sports franchise's strawweight division. The two announced their engagement in mid-2018. Nunes is set to fight Julianna Pena at UFC 265 in August.

 

 

Sha'Carri Richardson

Celebrities and public figures like MMA commentator Joe Rogan and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have come forward in their support for Sha'Carri Richardson after the sprinter was recently suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. The controversial suspension came in the wake of a positive marijuana test and has been the subject of criticism worldwide.

Although Richardson had recently won at the Olympic trials, which qualified her for the Tokyo Olympics, she will, sadly, be missing out on this opportunity in light of the recent events. Richardson recently came out as gay and is currently in a relationship with her girlfriend, whose name is unknown.

 

Mo Farah and Tania Nell - 11 Years Married

British long-distance runner Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah put a ring on it when he married his long-time girlfriend Tania Nell in 2010 in a lavish Richmond ceremony. The two had their first meeting while they were studying in west London.

After a decorated career, with four Olympic gold medals and six world championships, Farah said goodbye to the track in 2017. His wife and their daughter Rhianna were by the Olympic hero's side on this momentous occasion. He has since then made a comeback but recently suffered from a fractured foot after failing to qualify for the upcoming Olympics.

Mark Foster

Mark Andrew Foster was already the fastest swimmer in Britain by the time he was 15 years old. The former professional swimmer has represented the United Kingdom at the Commonwealth Games, several world championships, and Olympics.

Following a successful career in competitive swimming, Foster is a host, presenter, and motivational speaker today, along with serving as a long-term ambassador for supplements and multivitamin giant Wellman Nutritional Products. Given his strikingly good looks, Foster also occasionally dabbles in modeling and recently collaborated with fashion icon Ted Baker for his 'T for Tall' clothing range.

Holly Bradshaw and Paul Bradshaw - 6 Years Married

Professional pole vaulter-turned-loving wife Holly Bethan Bradshaw had high hopes for her upcoming sporting campaign at the Tokyo Games. Growing up, Holly lived only a mile away from her future husband, Paul Bradshaw.

The couple had to postpone their dreams of parenthood last year to allow Holly to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Given that the Olympics were delayed by a year, it seems like their dreams will have to take a back seat as she goes on a quest for Olympic gold one last time. Having spent their earlier years as childhood sweethearts, the couple decided to marry in October 2014.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Andrew Pozzi - 3 Years Together

The Brexit saga has also thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to track star Andrew Pozzi's Olympic aspirations. The British world indoor hurdles champion has already faced an uphill battle this year with the European Athletics Indoor Championships. Still, it is met with an even bigger obstacle in the form of the Tokyo Olympics.

Before Brexit, Pozzi could easily come over to his Italy-based girlfriend, English heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson. The two sparked a sporting romance in 2018 after frequent interactions at Athletics meetings. The two are presently hard at work to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Guillaume Cizeron and His Partner - 1 Year Together

Guillaume Cizeron has certainly made a name for himself in the world of ice dancing. The French figure skater is not only a two-time Olympian with a silver medal to his name but also a four-time world champion and has conquered the European championship five times.

Cizeron recently came out as gay on social media and even shared an Instagram selfie with his significant other in 2020. In an interview with Têtu magazine, he shared his journey as an individual struggling with the social stigma for several months before he finally decided to go public with his partner, who has remained unnamed.

 

Kennedi Deck

Apart from being an avid snowboarder, Kennedi Deck also has a deep passion for art and photography. The Transworld Snowboarding’s 2018 Rookie of the Year's reputation as an up-and-coming snowboarder is definitely on the rise. Deck made a big splash in the relatively small snowboarding community in 2018 when he joined a filming crew in 2018 to film several snowboarding sequences for The Uninvited.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native, who has come out as openly gay, recently starred in the Tanner Pendleton-directed full-length film Evergreen. The Vans Snow film celebrates the comradery between the snowboarders in the Vans family as they shred across snowy alps around the world.

Denis Finnegan

10-time Irish national track champion Denis Finnegan left his home country of Ireland before settling down in Melbourne, Australia, where he is currently living. In early 2020, he came out as gay after years of contemplation and dissatisfaction in his personal life.

Speaking as a guest on the Five Rings To Rule Them All podcast, Finnegan opened up to interviewer Cyd Zeigler, admitting that he had been inching towards coming out publicly for many years. In the end, his decision was pretty simple and straightforward since he wanted to help other LGBTQ athletes in sports feel less alone.

 

Dan Palmer

Former professional Australian rugby union player Dan Palmer is out to break down the contradictory stereotypes associated with being a rough and tough rugby player and a gay person. Before coming out, Palmer recounts fearing public backlash and even resorted to substance abuse to battle his inner demons.

Following his recently published powerful and thought-provoking column in the Sydney Morning Herald, there was an outpour of support for the 32-year-old. Apart from earning a cap for Australia in 2012, Palmer has also played as a tighthead prop for teams like the Brumbies and Waratahs.

Markus Thormeyer

Hailing from Delta, British Columbia, Markus Thormeyer specializes in freestyle and backstroke as a Canadian professional swimmer. After graduating from the South Delta Secondary high school, he joined the Canadian national team before being snagged by the UBC Thunderbirds.

Thormeyer is currently on the Thunderbirds' 2020-2021 roster and is training hard for the upcoming Tokyo Games. After coming out as gay to his family and team, the future Olympic prospect went on to perform at the peak of his career, winning a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and finishing as a finalist at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships.

Luke Strong

Five-time British champion Luke Robert David Strong announced his retirement as a professional gymnast in July 2021. The former trampoline gymnast has won several medals and accolades at the British, European, and World levels during his 16-year stint in the sport.

In 2014, Strong made history when he became the first British senior gymnast in two decades to win an individual bronze medal at the European Championships. Last year, Strong showed incredible courage when he announced that he was attracted to both men and women. The decision came after months of reflection on his career and personal life in the wake of several sporting injuries in the last two years.

Tom Bosworth and Harry Dineley - 5 Years Together

British Olympic race walker Thomas Stewart Bosworth holds multiple World and British records when it comes to his sport. The 31-year-old finished second at the 20km qualifiers at Kew Gardens in March earlier this year, despite suffering from a nerve issue.

His performance at Kew Gardens allowed Bosworth to secure his place for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The Sevenoaks native is reportedly in the shape of his life as he gears up to make a statement in Tokyo in the Summer. After finishing sixth in Rio in 2016, Bosworth proposed to his partner, Harry Dineley, while the two were out celebrating at the Copacabana beach.

 

Thomas Hitzlsperger

Former soccer midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger played for the German national team before transitioning to a career as a manager after his retirement as an athlete. After coming out as gay in 2014, today, he is an LGBT+ activist and recently put the UEFA on blast following the football union's rejection of an application for lighting up the Euro 2020 stadium in Munich in rainbow colors.

Hitzlsperger is currently serving as the German director of football and is extremely vocal on social media when it comes to football politics and social causes. He retired in 2014 after suffering from several sporting injuries, having played for the German national team and Aston Villa.

Diana Nyad

American long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad will be played by actress Annette Bening in her upcoming biopic, Nyad. The film is directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. It narrates the story of a 64-year old Nyad as she becomes the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida through shark-infested waters without a shark cage.

In August 2013, she made history when she dove from a seawall in Cuba to kickstart her 110-mile swim. This was her fifth attempt, having been denied in her previous outings due to sharks, jellyfish, and powerful currents.

Greg Louganis and Johnny Chaillot - 9 Years Together

After eight years of matrimony, Gregory Efthimios Louganis and Johnny Chaillot announced their divorce last month. In an Instagram post, the 61-year old Olympic diver and LGBT activist announced that the two have reached a mutual and respectable end to their eight-year union.

The pair were one of the first celebrity gay couples to get married, which came with its fair share of personal and public challenges. Back in the '90s, Greg was one of the most popular and highest-paid athletes before getting diagnosed with HIV. After one year of dating, Louganis and Chaillot tied the knot in October 2013 in Malibu, California.

Usain Bolt and Kasi Bennett - 5 Years Together

Usain St Leo Bolt and his partner Kasi Bennett just gave birth to two adorable twins. The two first announced their relationship via social media in early 2016. While we all know him for his larger-than-life performances as an athlete, apparently, Bolt also has the golden touch when it comes to naming his children.

In one of the coolest dad-moves of all time, the eight-time gold medalist and 100-meter record holder named his three children Olympia Lightning Bolt, Saint Leo Bolt, and Thunder Bolt. The now-retired athlete recently returned to the track for an 800-meter race as a part of an exhibition.

Alex Morgan and Servando Servando Carrasco- 14 Years Together

Alexandra Morgan met Servando Carrasco in 2007 when the two were freshmen at Berkley, and they have been together ever since. The couple said their vows on the eve of New Year's, heading into 2015, and welcomed their first baby in the middle of last year.

After playing a key role in guiding her team to a gold medal at the London Olympics almost nine years ago, Morgan has been the face of the U.S. women's national soccer team. Meanwhile, her husband Carrasco is currently playing as a midfielder for the Fort Lauderdale Football Club.

Justin Fashanu

It has been three decades since English soccer player Justinus Soni "Justin" Fashanu came out as gay. 1981 proved to be a ground-breaking year for him. He signed a $1.38 million contract to move to Nottingham Forest, becoming the first openly gay black soccer player to secure a million-dollar transfer fees contract.

Fashanu showed incredible heart and courage when he came out in 1990, despite facing challenges in his family life. Along with his brother's vehement opposition, Fashanu also had to contend with his mother's cancer diagnosis. He tragically took his own life in 1998 in a deserted garage in London.