Sports
Vets and rookies: D.C. Aquatics Club
Long-time members say newer swimmers inspire
Michael Saxvik ready to compete. (Washington Blade photo by Kevin Majoros)
Now that many of the LGBT sports teams in Washington have established solid clubs with strong bases of athletes, an interesting dynamic has emerged between the rookies and veterans on the teams.
This year the Blade will spotlight a rookie and a veteran from the different local teams in a series that will delve into why it is important to have a mix of both types of athletes and how they define each other.
Michael Saxvik joined the District of Columbia Aquatics Club in 2012 after moving to D.C. from St. Louis. A former high school swimmer from Minnesota, he missed the team aspect and being part of a group.
“I wanted to meet people with similar interests, build a new network and have a more structured approach to my workouts,” Saxvik says.
He says he wasn’t expecting to find so many veterans on the team and that what is great about them is the wealth of experience they bring to the table.
“It is nice to have the context of the experienced swimmers and to hear about the origins of the team,” Saxvik says. “I like having that connection to the history.”
Saxvik often finds that he is in the same lane with some of the veterans at practices and admires their work ethic.
“When they kick my butt in practice, it is a great wake up call,” he says.
This year, Saxvik, who is 33 and works in technology and consulting for higher education, joined the board of D.C. Aquatics as membership chair. He felt that it was the right time to step into a leadership role as the veterans have already given so much of their time.
“Being a part of D.C. Aquatics is one of the best things that have happened to me,” Saxvik says. “The veterans prove that there is hope for me to compete in the future.”
Dawson Nash grew up in Baltimore and attended St Paul’s School where athletics are a key skill set for students. He gave lacrosse and wrestling a try but found that he was unsuccessful at being an athlete even though it was something he wanted to achieve.
After moving to D.C., he joined D.C. Aquatics in 1998 because he wanted to compete and has never looked back.
“I love the camaraderie on the team and the challenging workouts,” Nash says. “Being in shape and competing is good for your mind and spirit; it makes you a well-rounded person.”
Nash likes seeing younger people gravitating to the sport and making swimming part of their lives.
“Having the newbies there is a constant reminder that you can’t rest on your laurels,” Nash says. “You can still improve at any age and the rookies motivate you to continue to better yourself.”
Nash, who is 61 and works as a manager of software developers, attended a high school reunion and after sharing stories of traveling the world to compete in swimming, a classmate turned and said, “Wow, you really are an athlete now.”
Nash has no plans to wrap up his swimming career anytime soon and finds contentment in the spirit of the team and meeting other swimmers from all over the world.
In an interesting twist as to what actually defines a veteran, Nash points to a 91-year-old swimmer from California who recently starred in a Speedo ad, swims a mile a day and competes in a dozen swim meets a year.
“In 30 years, I want to be that guy,” Nash says. “Joining this team is one of the best things I have ever done.”
Dawson Nash at the Maryland Swim for Life open water race (Washington Blade photo by Kevin Majoros)
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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Judge denies D.C. request to dismiss gay police captain’s anti-bias lawsuit
Lawyer representing Renee Good’s family speaks out
Comings & Goings
Calendar: January 23-29
