Sports
Intensive training
Swim camp gives athletes techniques to up their game
(Photo by Kevin Majoros)
It has been a longstanding tradition in the sports community for athletes to attend training camps in their respective sports. Most camps feature top-notch coaching, intensive training and athletes who want to better themselves. Attendees in any given sport run the gamut from ages 8-80, lay to professional athletes.
One can also find training camps in the LGBT sports community. Last month, about 40 swimmers from New York to California to Paris to D.C. attended the annual Team New York Aquatics swim camp for seven days of training at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale.
Led by coaches Abi Liu, Brian Cairns and David Hovey, a typical day for the swimmers was as follows: morning dry land training followed by a two-hour practice in the pool, followed by a stroke clinic. More dry land and another swim practice was held each evening. Camp bonding took place daily at restaurants, Sebastian Beach, house parties and nightclubs.
Meet one of the coaches and six swimmers who participated at the swim camp.
Abi Liu
Abi Liu
(Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Wenzhou, China. Now living in San Jose, Calif.
Occupation: Head coach of 150 age group swimmers at Peak Swimming. Runs two swim schools, Saratoga Star Aquatics and Milpitas Star Aquatics with 4,500 students weekly. Graduated from San Jose State University.
Sports background: Started swimming at age 8. Captured a title at the Chinese Junior National Championships at age 13 and was recruited to the Chinese National Team. Former Chinese national record holder in the 200 meter backstroke, two-time Chinese national champion, gold medalist at the FINA World Cup, silver medalist at the Asia Games and bronze medalist at the FINA World Championships. Two-time Pacific Swimming coach of the year. Serves as an ambassador for USA Swimming on the LGBT Cultural Inclusion Group.
Reason for coaching Swim Camp: “This is very different from what I do daily as an age group coach as masters swimmers bring a different dynamic. I came in with no expectations and I am walking away so rewarded. I have been surprised by everyone here stepping out of their comfort zone and showing a willingness to learn. It motivates me as a coach. I have received and I have learned from these swimmers as much as they have from me. To be surrounded by members of my own community was like instant family. I felt that warmth immediately.”
Warren Perry
Warren Perry (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Kinston, N.C. Now living in New York, NY.
Occupation: Aquatics director at Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Sports background: Started swimming at age 7. Age group state champion in the butterfly and individual medley. Swam for four years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Championships (World OutGames) and the New York City Marathon.
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “I started with Team New York Aquatics in 2011 and ended up having surgery from a torn labrum. I just got back into the water last year and have been focused on doing things that are good for my soul.”
Rodrigo Corcho
Rodrigo Corcho (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Girardot, Colombia. Now living in Los Angeles.
Occupation: Works at Delta Airlines.
Sports background: Started swimming at age 8. Broke the Colombian national age group breaststroke record at age 13 and was sent to train in Brazil. Started swimming with West Hollywood Aquatics in 2004.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals, International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Championships (World OutGames), FINA World Masters Championships and the U.S. Masters Swimming Summer Nationals.
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “I am looking to improve my times and feel stronger in the water. This is my second swim camp of the season and I am feeling like an Olympian.”
Jeremy Davidson
Jeremy Davidson (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Santa Clarita, Calif. Now living in Oakland.
Occupation: Works as an educational therapist in private practice. Graduated from Middlebury College.
Sports background: Swam in high school and started swimming with San Francisco Tsunami in 2012. Current co-president of the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics board.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals and the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Championships (World OutGames).
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “I want to push my training to a new level, make new friends and be inspired by others who are pushing themselves.”
Kate Chialastri
Kate Chialastri (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised and lives in Philadelphia.
Occupation: Works as a statistician at Janssen Pharmaceutical, assistant swim coach at Penn Charter and as a swim coach with the Philadelphia Fins.
Sports background: Swam for four years at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Started swimming with the Philadelphia Fins in 2011.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: Delaware Valley Championships and the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Championships (World OutGames).
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “I want to jumpstart my training for the OutGames and I needed a less guilty vacation. This is my fourth time at this camp and the group is very welcoming. I feel like I am more connected to the LGBT community even though I am just an ally.”
Dan Bell
Dan Bell
(Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Drexel Hill, Pa. Now living in Burlingame, Calif.
Occupation: Works in finance and operations for a biotech company. Graduated from Drexel University.
Sports background: Baseball, roller hockey, soccer and squash. First attempt at swimming laps was in college.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: Ironman 70.3 Santa Rosa, Ironman 70.3 Boulder and the Lake Del Valle Open Water Festival.
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “Since I was a latecomer to the sport, I wanted one-on-one coaching to improve my technique and efficiency.”
Brian Jacobson
Brian Jacobson (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Location: Raised in Downey, Calif. Now living in Minneapolis.
Occupation: Works as a business analyst at the University of Minnesota.
Sports background: Started swimming at age 5. Former U.S. National Junior Team member. Swam for two years at Stanford. Qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1992, 2008 and 2012. Has lowered the FINA world record three times in his age group in the 50-meter freestyle.
Targeted 2017 sports competitions: U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals, International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Championships (World OutGames), FINA World Masters Championships and the U.S. Masters Swimming Summer Nationals.
Reason for attending Swim Camp: “This type of distance training isn’t a good match for what I need as a sprinter, so my practices will be modified. I am here because it’s Florida, it’s fun and the boys are cute.”
Iran and Egypt on Friday faced off during the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace in Egypt.
Friday’s match coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. The Egyptian Football Association and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran both objected to playing in the “Pride Match.”
Egypt and Iran tied 1-1.
FIFA, for its part, allowed Pride flags inside the stadium during the match.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags inside the stadium. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility matters,” said Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin. “Pride is now being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing a Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this year told Die Weltwoche, a Swiss magazine, that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup.”
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organized by external organizations will be taking place in the city,” said Infantino. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a long-time LGBTQ activist from the U.K. who is director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those who traveled to Seattle for Friday’s match. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams — specifically Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Algeria — over whether they would allow gay players.
“FIFA is protecting LGBT+ visibility in the stands while failing to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” said Tatchell.
The Baltimore Orioles will take on the Washington Nationals on Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. for Pride Night at Oriole Park.
The first 15,000 fans will receive an exclusive Pride Night Orioles jersey. The Washington Blade is a media sponsor of this event.
To purchase tickets, visit Orioles.com/Tickets.
Sports
Minor league team in York, Pa., forfeits Pride Night game after some players refuse to wear special jersey
City is roughly 20 miles north of Md. border
An independent minor league baseball team says it is forfeiting a game because some of its players refused to wear a special Pride Night jersey.
The Atlantic League Pro Baseball’s York Revolution were planning to hold their 11th annual Pride Night event Thursday for a game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
But the Revolution announced the day of the game that it wouldn’t be played. York is about 20 miles north of the Maryland line. The Blue Crabs play in Waldorf.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
As Washington shifts right, Democratic Socialists gain ground
Susan Stewart could make history as Rehoboth’s first openly gay mayor
Silky Nutmeg Ganache talks sex and dating, gender, politics, weight loss journey
Madonna roundup: Reviews, sales, and love for ‘Danceteria’
Three overlooked court rulings limited White House anti-trans policies
‘Transcendent’ a tough but important read
Under-the-radar Delaware beach towns smart buyers are targeting
‘My Favorite Sociopath’ debuts at Shepherdstown’s CATF
In Trump’s divided America, Michael Weinstein’s AHF responds
