For the first time in the history of Olympics, a same-sex married couple is competing at the 'greatest show on Earth' this year. Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh are part of the seventh-ranked Great Britain squad and they are in Rio de Janerio to vie for the gold.
Both of them have been teammates for almost two decades and played their first Summer Games back in Beijing 2008. Four years later, they won a historic bronze together after competing with Great Britain for 17 years at London. The pair have known each other since the under 18s. They eventually got married in 2013 and had their entire team there to celebrate the occasion. Rio is their first Olympics as married couples.
While Kate is the most capped player in the team, Helen started almost at the same time and has been a part of the squad since the late 90s. The latter had a career threatening back injury resulting in two surgeries some time back in 2014 as a result of which Kate only made the cut. Helen showed determination and came back to the main team after a few months of practice. However, Kate, who played with a metal plate in her face at London 2012 just five days after breaking her jaw, retired after the Hockey World Cup but made a comeback for Rio.
They believe, if you’ve got a boyfriend, girlfriend or are married it’s not an issue. It is not a taboo, it is just part and parcel of life. Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh are special. So is their sport.
The Olympic Games embody tremendous fortitude, discipline, and courage. It is not surprising how the goal of representing the country in sports play a role in the lives of Olympians. Maybe, this is just another reason why the Olympics are so unique.
Even if they don't win a medal like London, the presence of two interesting athletes in Rio is worth a watch. Great Britain in the same group with India, Japan, Australia, United States, Argentina.
