Sports : Canadian soccer player Quinn becomes the first trans and nonbinary gold medalist

Canadian footballer Quinn made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by becoming the first trans and the first non-binary athlete to win a medal.

It took two periods of extra-time and a drama-filled penalty shootout, but Canada's Julia Grosso buried the game-winner against Sweden to capture the first-ever gold medal for the country in women's football.

After Monday's semifinal win over the United States Women's National Team – Canada's first win over its North American rival in 20 years – Quinn, who uses they and them pronouns, told CBC Sports that they've been "getting messages from young people saying they've never seen a trans person in sports before."

"Athletics is the most exciting part of my life and it brings me the most joy. If I can allow kids to play the sports they love, that's my legacy and that's what I'm here for."

Quinn was assigned female at birth but after many years of questioning themselves, realised their own gender identity did not match their sex.

Since 2004, transgender athletes have been allowed to compete at the Olympics.

Those who have transitioned from female to male are allowed to do so without restriction. However, current International Olympic Committee guidelines, issued in November 2015, state that transgender women (those who have transitioned from male to female) must suppress testosterone levels for at least 12 months before competition.