Shilo Rousseau plans to sport a Pride rainbow during her Winter Olympics competition
Shilo Rousseau competes in her first Winter Olympics in Milan, representing Canada and keeping a rainbow flag on her equipment. The post Shilo Rousseau plans to sport a Pride rainbow during her Winter Olympics competition appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
Name: Shilo Rousseau
Country: Canada
Sport: Biathlon
Previous Olympic experience: None.
Social Media: Instagram
Who is Shilo Rousseau?
Shilo Rousseau is from the town of Thessalon, a town of about 1,200 people located on the far northern coast of Lake Huron in Ontario.
The 25-year-old competes in biathlon, a difficult combination of endurance, speed and precision.
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The endurance and speed are cross-country skiing, with the athlete crossing between about four to eight miles over the course of a competition, depending on which competition it is. Precision is measured by shooting a rifle at a target.
It gets complicated, but that’s the sport Shilo Rousseau will compete in. She’s ranked overall No. 60 in the world for women, as high as No. 42 in the women’s pursuit.
Rousseau made headlines in the last few months when she competed with a rifle that included a rainbow flag. A debate emerged about the symbol’s legality in competition, and Rousseau was ultimately allowed to compete with it.
“The visibility of the rainbow means a lot to me, and it is important that I can represent who I am authentically,” she said. “Being proud of who I am has not been an easy or quick journey and I’m so proud of how far I have come.”
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Shilo Rousseau at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics
For Shile Rousseau, representation means a lot. It’s something she is centering in her participation in these Winter Olympics.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to represent my small hometown, Thessalon, and bring pride to my community,” she said. And of course, as we’ve heard from so many athletes headed to Milan, “The chance to connect with other LGBTQ+ athletes is a highlight for me as well.”
While she’s the only out LGBTQ athlete competing in biathlon at these Winter Olympics that we know of, Rousseau is one of at least 44 publicly out LGBTQ athletes competing at these Milan Winter Olympics. That’s a fact not lost on her.
“Knowing that I’m part of a larger community of LGBTQ+ athletes helps me feel less alone and even more motivated to take pride in who I am. It’s inspiring to see so many of us representing our identities proudly and unapologetically.”
One of the questions surrounding Rousseau is if she will be allowed to have the rainbow flag on her rifle while she competes.
“I have not heard that I wouldn’t be allowed to compete with it, so I definitely plan to continue having the rainbow as an essential part of my rifle.”
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The post Shilo Rousseau plans to sport a Pride rainbow during her Winter Olympics competition appeared first on Outsports.
