Tom Chiola and his partner of 15 years, Drew Jemilo, have one simple goal for the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany: To finish with a smile on our faces, said Chiola, president of the Alliance of Illinois Judges (www.TheAIJ.com) and the first openly gay candidate elected to office in Illinois (Circuit Court Judge, 1994) .The residents of Andersonville (or Mandersonville, as Jemilo calls it) will be competing in the 5K and 10K road races.
"The Gay Games are a wonderful experience, a supportive environment where the most important thing is to do the best you can do. The feeling of community is so overwhelming and heartening [at the Games]. Meeting people from around the world is incredible," said Chiola, 57.
Both have Gay Games experience and medals of honor. Chiola ran the marathon and competed in bowling in Vancouver in 1990. He competed in the triathlon and in swimming events in New York City in 1994. And in Chicago in 2006, Chiola again competed in the triathlon. His bowling team won the silver medal in 1990. Jemilo competed in the triathlon in Chicago in 2006 and he jokes that he won, "The Mother Teresa Gold Medal for Cheering Others On."
"I have always made great friends through sports groups like Chicago's gay volleyball league and the Chicago Razors triathlon group," said Jemilo, 43. "I look forward to expanding that [while in Cologne] to people from around the world. "
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