Dutee Chand

On the track, Dutee Chand sprints. Off the track, she fights. The 100-m runner from India is preparing to make her second Olympic appearance, in 2020 in Tokyo. In July, she became the first Indian sprinter to win the 100-m at the World University Games. But back in 2014, Chand was effectively banned from competition because of her high natural testosterone levels; she appealed the verdict and won a precedent-setting case. This year, Chand announced she was in a same-sex relationship, making her the first openly gay athlete in India’s history. For a country that decriminalized homosexuality just a year ago, Chand’s revelation was a notable step forward: Vogue India named her the nation’s Sportsperson of the Year. “No one can win without love,” says Chand. —Sean Gregory