Imke Duplitzer, Olympic fencer and activist

From Outsports on SB Nation:

Jul 29, 2012 - Out and outspoken lesbian fencer Imke Duplitzer of Germany starts her round of 64 in women's épée July 30, against Maria Martinez of Venezuela. A veteran of five Olympics, 6'1", 36-year-old Duplitzer was high-profile during the Beijing Games in 2008.

Passionately devoted to human-rights issues, she boycotted the Beijing opening ceremonies as a protest to Chinese communism and its actions in Tibet and Darfur. She said she'd probably spend the time reading a book and having a beer.

"I'm in a different position from other young athletes," Imke told the press in Beijing at the time. "This is my fourth Games. I understand athletes want to march in the opening ceremony because it's a life dream. That's okay with me."

Duplitzer was also one of 40 athletes who signed an open letter to Chinese president Hu protesting human-rights violations in Tibet and Darfur. This open letter and others, along with the resignation of Steven Spielberg as artistic director at Beijing, were all part of a huge international activist flurry designed to pressure the People's Republic of China into the respect for human rights officially required from member nations of the Olympics movement. The idea of athletes boycotting the Games was floated. However, China ignored the protests, and the Games rolled forward.


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