Sports
‘Front’ of the line
Local gay running group boasts 300 members

The usually do more running than dancing but here the D.C. Front Runners perform in the Capital Pride parade in June. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
One of the larger LGBT sports group in the D.C area is the D.C. Front Runners. About 300 members strong, they can often be seen running or walking in groups throughout different sections of the city.
Founded in 1981, the group offers a variety of options for people looking for a regular schedule of exercise. They belong to an extensive network of Front Runner clubs that have representation around the world. Currently there are about 100 Front Runner chapters, representing 36 states and 10 countries.
Annual member dues for the group are $25 for individuals, $40 for households and $10 for students. Members receive weekly e-mail updates, a quarterly newsletter, running store discounts, entry into an intra-club race/walk circuit competition, access to race training programs and invitations to club social functions.
The walking circuit is hosted on Saturday mornings, Tuesday evenings and on federal holidays in the morning. The group either meets at 23rd and P streets N.W. or at Union Station. The walk is between 3 and 4 miles with the path taken varying between several different loops. The pace of the walkers can be brisk or just a leisurely stroll. The group will make sure you are not walking alone.
The run circuit meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Saturday and Sunday mornings and on federal holiday mornings. These are non-competitive runs and depending on the day, they run along Rock Creek Park, the National Mall and the Potomac River. They also meet at either 23rd and P Street N.W. or Union Station. The distance and pace is at the discretion of each runner and the leaders will help you find someone with similar needs. It is common for Saturday morning runs to have about 50 in attendance.
More than a dozen LGBTQ athletes won medals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics that ended on Sunday.
Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight, and Alex Carpenter are LGBTQ members of the U.S. women’s hockey team that won a gold medal after they defeated Canada in overtime. Knight the day before the Feb. 19 match proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.
French ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron, who is gay, and his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry won gold. American alpine skier Breezy Johnson, who is bisexual, won gold in the women’s downhill. Amber Glenn, who identifies as bisexual and pansexual, was part of the American figure skating team that won gold in the team event.
Swiss freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud, who is in a relationship with Vali Höll, an Austrian mountain biker, won gold in women’s freeski slopestyle.
Bruce Mouat, who is the captain of the British curling team that won a silver medal, is gay. Six members of the Canadian women’s hockey team — Emily Clark, Erin Ambrose, Emerance Maschmeyer, Brianne Jenner, Laura Stacey, and Marie-Philip Poulin — that won silver are LGBTQ.
Swedish freestyle skier Sandra Naeslund, who is a lesbian, won a bronze medal in ski cross.
Belgian speed skater Tineke den Dulk, who is bisexual, was part of her country’s mixed 2000-meter relay that won bronze. Canadian ice dancer Paul Poirier, who is gay, and his partner, Piper Gilles, won bronze.
Laura Zimmermann, who is queer, is a member of the Swiss women’s hockey team that won bronze when they defeated Sweden.
Outsports.com notes all of the LGBTQ Olympians who competed at the games and who medaled.
Sports
US wins Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey
Team captain Hilary Knight proposed to girlfriend on Wednesday
The U.S. women’s hockey team on Thursday won a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. The game took place a day after Team USA captain Hilary Knight proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.
Cayla Barnes and Alex Carpenter — Knight’s teammates — are also LGBTQ. They are among the more than 40 openly LGBTQ athletes who are competing in the games.
The Olympics will end on Sunday.
Sports
Attitude! French ice dancers nail ‘Vogue’ routine
Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry strike a pose in memorable Olympics performance
Madonna’s presence is being felt at the Olympic Games in Italy.
Guillaume Cizeron and his rhythm ice dancing partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry of France performed a flawless skate to Madonna’s “Vogue” and “Rescue Me” on Monday.
The duo scored an impressive 90.18 for their effort, the best score of the night.
“We’ve been working hard the whole season to get over 90, so it was nice to see the score on the screen,” Fournier Beaudry told Olympics.com. “But first of all, just coming out off the ice, we were very happy about what we delivered and the pleasure we had out there. With the energy of the crowd, it was really amazing.”
Watch the routine on YouTube here.
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