Karen Hultzer is on the South African Olympic team as an archer, and she has confirmed for the first time that she is, in fact, a lesbian. The forty-six year old’s statement makes twenty-two Olympians who have come out. While this is the first time that Hultzer has spoken about being lesbian, her partner has told South African media that she was happy to be identified as lesbian.

She stated that “I am an archer, middle aged and a lesbian. I am also cranky before my first cup of coffee. None of these aspects define who I am, they are simply part of me. . .I am fortunate that my sexual identity is not an issue, and I don’t suffer the level of discrimination and violence that black lesbians in South Africa do. . .I look forward to the day when this is a non-issue and as relevant as my eye color or favorite sushi.”