MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Who is Erica Bougard's girlfriend? US athlete advocates for LGBTQ, says 'I’m going to be myself'

The 28-year-old heptathlete is currently focusing on winning medal at Tokyo Olympics

Erica Bougard has come out as a strong competitor for other athletes participating in the heptathlon at the Tokyo Olympics. After qualifying for Team USA for three World Athletics World Championship, the 28-year-old also left no stone unturned for the US Olympic trials last month. She came third behind long-time rivals Annie Kunz and Kendell Williams to make her first Olympic team.

The same team had earlier represented Team USA at the World Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar in 2019. It’s also the event during which many heard about Bougard for the first time. The woman had made a statement at the time by rocking rainbow on her shoes in a country, where same-sex love is criminalized and LGBTQ people can face a death sentence. However, Bougard is also well known for winning US outdoor national titles in the heptathlon in 2018 and 2019. Besides, she also came victorious during US indoor national titles in the pentathlon in 2017 and 2018 along with long jump in 2017.

READ MORE

What is Emmanuel Korir's net worth? Kenyan runner wins 800m gold at Tokyo Olympics

Where is Dominique Moceanu now? Magnificent Seven gymnast ‘starved and fat-shamed’ by coaches

Who is Erica Bougard's girlfriend?

Bougard is not very public about her dating life. The name of her girlfriend is not known yet, but she is very much vocal about her sexual preferences as she is publicly out as LGBTQ and also advocates for LGBTQ communities. On Nike's website, she has said, “I’m going to be myself no matter what and let people know... I let the track community know that this is me, this is who I am. This is who I've always been."

Bougard attracted a lot of eyes two years ago when she donned a rainbow on her shoes while competing at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. At the time, the Memphis native said, “I honestly didn't think about it because it was already on my shoe. I put the flag on my shoe and people noticed it, I guess. I feel like we have a voice, us as athletes, because more people look at us to perform. It's important because I feel like people hate people for loving who they love. Some people don't believe in it, which is totally fine. I wanted to show my side and put the symbol on my shoe. Hopefully I do get a lot of praise. I hope I don’t get bashed a lot.”

Meanwhile, other than being an athlete, Bougard also enjoys playing video games like Call of Duty and streams on Twitch. The about section of her channel states, “One day I hope to become a grown up. Use to think I was a tad indecisive, but now I'm not quite sure. My hobbies are Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner topped with a chocolate dessert (: and oh yeah, I"m a Professional Nike track & field Athlete. 5x US National indoor/outdoor Champion!”

People on the internet also love her as they are eagerly waiting for her win in Tokyo. A fan tweeted, “Day Keycap digit two of the heptathlon has begun and @HailStateTF 's Erica Bougard is making her final push. The Maroon & White is behind you! (Are those cowbells we hear?Ear) #HailState I #OlympiansMadeHere.” Another one wrote, “Erica Bougard embarking on day one of the heptathlon: - 100m hurdles - High jump - Shot put - 200m.” “Tune into USA now to watch Erica Bougard run! #HailState,” the third fan added.