The 2009 World Outgames kick off with the Opening Ceremony in Copenhagen on Saturday, July 25. As the clock ticks down on training for the anticipated 8,000 sporting participants, writer Ross Forman will be profiling Outgames athletes over the next six months in a new continuing series: The Outgames Athletes.
Barry Eisenberg, Running | Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Tennis |
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The Colorado couple will be in Copenhagen this summer for the 2009 World Outgames, with memories of their tennis performance from the 2006 Outgames in Montreal lingering in their minds. You see, they captured third-place in their division, but Montreal organizers did not give medals for third place. “We hope to actually win a medal this time around,” Lewis said. Lewis, a pharmacist, will be 52 when the Outgames kick off on Saturday, July 25. She was the first woman to run for Student Body President at the largest University in North Carolina, UNC, and (the school) was established in 1789. In 2008, she was the first out lesbian ever elected as a delegate from Colorado to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. “I love meeting people from all over the world and through friendly athletic competition, you can make connections and relationships that can be life-long,” Lewis said. “We want to play hard and do well (in Copenhagen), and hopefully win a gold medal.” Lewis also has played in the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America (LGBA) Opening Ceremonies at the New York Gay Games. In 1984, she founded the North Carolina LGBT Pride marching Band that still exists today and plays in Gay Games and sporting events all around the South.
MORE SONYA JAQUEZ LEWIS: COLLEGE: University of North Carolina FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: “My alma mater, UNC. The men and women’s (basketball) teams will be NCAA National Champs this year.” FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Martina Navratilova, “the greatest women’s tennis player in history.” HOBBIES: “I’m a drum slut. I play drums in rock ‘n roll bands and West African ensembles. Also enjoy horseback riding at our ranch and politics. I hope to run for office someday.” SUPERSTITIONS: “I have never cut my hair.” WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM OTHER OUTGAMES PARTICIPANTS: “I hope to play my sport, tennis, in six out of the seven continents in the world. I would try for Antarctica, but I hear they don’t have a court there.” DEDICATING OR PARTICIPATING IN THE OUTGAMES FOR ANYONE OR ON BEHALF OF ANYONE: “I have several friends who cannot go this year because of the recession so I’ll be sending messages back to our tennis team and supporters in Colorado.” (Complete This Sentence) THE OUTGAMES WILL BE A SUCCESS FOR ME ... “If we play the best we can and meet folks from all over the world, and enjoy the wonderful host city of Copenhagen.” |