The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are shaping up to be a significant milestone for openly LGBT athletes, thanks to several breakthrough achievements.

Team USA's Adam Rippon became the first openly gay man from the U.S. to win a Winter Olympics medal when he was awarded bronze in the men's free skate on February 11.

Team Canada's Eric Radford, from Ontario, became the first openly gay Winter Olympian to win a gold medal with his partner Meagan Duhamel, also from Ontario, in the team figure skating event also on February 11.

Canadian Olympic gold medalist and LGBT activist Mark Tewksbury expressed his appreciation of the significance of Radford's win.

https://twitter.com/marktewks/status/963071778892406785

While this year's number of 14 out athletes is a record for the Winter Olympics, the overall record is 42 out athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Although many LGBT athletes have won Olympic medals in the past, many won before they publicly came out. For instance, English figure skater John Curry won the gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics but was outed thereafter by a German tabloid. Meanwhile, many athletes continue to remain closeted.

https://twitter.com/Rad85E/status/963024289300602881

This year, the Canadian Olympic Committee stepped in to host Pride House at Canada House, after South Korean LGBT activists and organizers were unable to raise enough funding. The LGBT–safe space is the first Pride House to be held in Asia since the first one was launched at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.

Radford posted a photo of himself with his fiancé, Spanish ice dancer Luis Fenero, at Canada House on social media on February 10.

https://twitter.com/Rad85E/status/962324742152732674