Gay Games

 
Nadadores Gunning For Gold

By Cyd Zeigler Jr.

The word “nadadores” means “swimmer” in Spanish.  So, when a small group of mostly Hispanic swimmers got together seven years ago to form a gay swimming club in Miami, Nadadores seemed like the perfect name for their new organization.

Since their inception in the mid-90’s, Nadadores has grown to include over 30 members.  They now even have a coach and practice four times a week, not including an ocean swim every Sunday.  In the last two years, they’ve also begun to compete at the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) tournaments with great success.  At the last two IGLA Championships, they have placed first in the Small Team Division (under 10 swimmers) in 2000 and won the Medium Team Division (10-20 swimmers) in 2001.

Now, many on the team are gearing up for their first participation in the Gay Games in Sydney next November.  While several of the Nadadores did compete in Gay Games V in Amsterdam in 1998, they did not attend as a team.

Unfortunately, some of their teammates will not be able to attend.  Word came down from Sydney 2002 in November that they had reached their capacity for the swimming events at 1,200 participants, and that registration for swimming would be closed.  Several of the Nadadores swimmers are on the wait list, including team co-captain Victor Gimenez.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Gimenez said.  “I think they had no idea how many entries they were going to get.”  Sydney 2002 is being proactive in creating spaces for those on the wait list by encouraging registered swimmers to participate in other sports if swimming is not their number one choice.  Sydney has assured those on the wait list that they will be notified as soon as possible if they are able to register for swimming and Gimenez is hopeful that he’ll soon hear from the

For the Nadadores who are registered, the team will be holding fund raisers throughout the year to defray the cost of attending.  Presently, they’re considering everything from hosting parties to car washes.  The Gay Games registrants are also stepping up their practice schedule, putting in more time with the coach and doing more frequent time trials.

Former team captain Chris DiGilio is looking forward to the Games and what they bring that other IGLA events can’t quite measure up to.  “At Sydney, there will be a better caliber swimmer and higher competition,” said DiGilio.  With the Games already eclipsing the registration of any other IGLA event, and swimmers from around the globe, that week is sure to be both fun and highly competitive in the pool.