Sports Illustrated just named lesbian football icon Megan Rapinoe as their prestigious sportsperson of the year
Megan Rapinoe has been named named Sports Illustrated’s 2019 Sportsperson of the Year. (Screenshot via Twitter/Sports Illustrated)
One of the biggest magazines in the sports scene, Sports Illustrated, have named lesbian footballer Megan Rapinoe as sportsperson of the year.
The US Women’s National Soccer Team co-captain led the team to victory at the Women’s World Cup in France.
With her outspoken personality and powder pink hair, Rapinoe has rocketed up the ranks in the sporting world while using her position to spar with the Trump administration.
She has now become the fourth woman to be individually named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in the 66-year history of the title.
Megan Rapinoe has a long history of political activism.
With dazzling purple hair and armed with a sledgehammer, the cover captures her brand of unapologetic activists. .
Unafraid to trade barbs with critics, Rapinoe has rattled norms throughout her career.
She kneeled during the national anthem in solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick in 2016 – a move that saw her be benched for several matches.
.@GrantWahl talks with @JennyVrentas about her new Sportsperson of the Year story on Megan Rapinoe.
They talk about Rapinoe’s athletic and social impact and the forces in her life that have shaped those things
Listen now: https://t.co/TCg9UP6nmE pic.twitter.com/nZUlBOjyRB
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 9, 2019
“It just so happens that I came back with a vengeance, better than I had ever been,” Rapinoe told the magazine.
“And then it was like, well, you are stuck with me now.”
While even before winning the World Cup, she sternly said that the US team would not go to the “f****ing White House.”
Honored to win @SInow #Sportsperson of the Year! I couldn’t have done it without the fans. This award is for all of you. #VWAmbassador #DriveBigger @vw pic.twitter.com/nLAQe0OklP— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) December 9, 2019
Rapinoe has long argued that it would be irresponsible not to use her international platform to effect changer.
As she collected her golden trophy at FIFA’s Best Women’s Plater in the World awards, she slammed the “rampant homophobia” pervading the pitch.
