Team Colorado medal winner looking to London 2012

From the Out Front Colorado blog:

David Smith from Westminster, Colo., 22, just came home from the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany with 3 GOLD and 3 SILVER medals in swimming and now he has his sights set on another prize!

Smith took GOLD in the 400 IM, 400 Free and 200 Fly. SILVER in 100 Fly and 200 Free and 4 by 100 Free.

He set a new Gay Games record in the 200 Fly!

More than 150 teams from around the world participated in Gay Games VIII which were held from July 31 through August 7.

Smith, who currently swims with the Colorado SQUID swim team is planning on competing for Metro State in the fall.

dsm

The highlight of the trip for Smith was meeting Australian diver Matthew Mitcham. “Being able to sit down for a few minutes and chit chat with a famous Olympic Gold Medalist was really an unexpected honor”, he said.

Smith admits that he would like to return to the Gay Games in 2014 but has his eye on another kind of gold as well. “I’m shooting for more than just the next Gay Games” he said before a recent practice at the Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center in Denver.

David hopes to compete for the United States at the 2012 Olympics in London and is training for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska scheduled to take place from June 25 to July 2, 2012.

Live from Cologne: view videos of the closing ceremony

Live from Cologne report by Sonya Lewis, Colorado




Videos courtesy of http://www.teamcoloradousa.org/

Live from Cologne: USA wins friendly tennis match

Live from Cologne reported by Sonya Lewis, Colorado

Sonya Lewis and Fred Scott from USA beat Erna Vernog from Australia and Petros A from South Africa in a friendly match yesterday.

Live from Cologne: Team Colorado wins first Gold Medal

Live from Cologne reported by Sonya Lewis, Colorado

Congratulations Mary Hetzel, Gold Medalist of Lafayette, CO!Mary is Phenomenal! She is probably (and we have to check the record books) the ONLY Colorado athlete who has won a gold medal in every Gay Games she has attended. Mary is a power lifter and has competed in every Gay Games, except the 2nd one in 1986 in SF. The finals came down to Mary and a German lifter, and Mary pulled it through..WOW ! And her partner, Terry, a tennis player could also not believe her eyes either. Gal Power Rocks!

Allison, originally from NY, has won a medal in every games she has attended in the last 10 years. She is a long distance runner and this is the silver medal in the 10K for her age group. She now lives in Berlin and according to our fab friends, Nana and Susanne..her German language is PERFECT ! (As someone who can barely say schneitzel..I am so jealous..)Wow..what a fun match we watched yesterday with the women’s soccer team all the way from Soweto, South Africa versus the tough Germans of Team Berlin. Back and forth Berlin scored and although they had many good tries..but that was the final score. Vuvusulas blaring…

And to end the day…good food and great company in the Cologne City Center and then music and a walk around the Woman’s space…It is living the Gay Games Dream…..

Live from Cologne: out and proud

Live from Cologne reported by Sonya Lewis, Colorado

WOW !! WELCOMING THE WORLD !! COLOGNE GAY GAMES 2010 OPENING CEREMONIES

I have been to several Opening Ceremonies including a World Series and Stanley Cup Finals, but Cologne did us Queers right tonight.Ten thousand athletes from all over this planet gathered on a huge field and a feeling of everything is right with the world tonight abound.

The volunteers and organization was right on. You felt secure yet free to be anything and who you are. In the heart of a vibrant city yet all of us on the field joined by our love of sport ready to march into a huge stadium that by size could inspire any competitor to want to give their best.Intermittent spritzing rain did not deter any spirits and there was apel time for intercontinental reunions and lots of kisses and hugs. Many an athlete has attended these competitions dating back to 1982 and it showed by the squeals of glee and joy.

Based on an Olympic tradition, I thoroughly enjoy the sport of trading pins. Many a smile was caught as fellow “Pin Whores” met and a new City or Country team pin was acquired. My Team Colorado pins seemed to be in demand as I had gone through more than 25 in an hour. And at the risk of offending someone..I still am partial to the Team London pins..I have many from past games and always hunt them out.

And then the moment came that we all gathered in front of our Team Colorado Banner and I could not be more proud. Each of us..some borrowing money from friends and families, some saving for months even years, some deciding at the last minute all collected ourselves on this green field in the middle o Germany to say..We are OUT and PROUD and will represent Colorado and our Country, our Team and Ourselves in a spirit of fair and fierce and friendly competition.

So much more to say about the Opening Ceremonies so bear with me while I get some sleep and dream about a night to remember.

Love All….

Live from Cologne: Waking up in Germany

Live from Cologne report from Sonya Lewis, Team Colorado

Waking up to the first full day in the “Old World” is both exhilarating but overwhelming. Allison and I have been looking forward to exploring Berlin for a long time and especially with our dear friends, Nana and Susanne., who live here. Imagine trying to show someone Denver and Boulder in one day? Do you do mountain or city, your typical life with family and friends, or as athletes..your sport and teammates?.Well..we were treated to all of the above.

We took in the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods of Berlin. Saw the famous Reichstag (Congress and former head of the Third Reich) and strolled the grounds of the Arts Complex (see video). And Berlin is having their own Biennial of the Americas…(like Denver)..they featured artists who are displaying art and concepts about reclaiming our natural resources and using materials that would be shoved off to the Landfill.. very green and thought provocating.

We played tennis at the Tennis club and met some of the team and friends. Ah..the Red Clay…So..we did NOT see anything about the Gay Games while in Berlin..not a total surprise because we did not make it to any of the Gay Villages but when the subject of Why Cologne? came up. I was indeed surprised. Now..remember I am relatively new to the world of FGG decisions so I am playing catch up if you will….Apparently, Berlin had indeed bid and maybe won the Games..again..translation issues could be at play here..but There are 2 large LGBT Sports organizations in Berlin and they.. surprise surprise… fight about FGG or GLISA. And when these past battles reared their ugly heads over the 2010 Games..the Gay Mayor of Berlin stepped in and said..if you can not get along..then Berlin will not support the Games…thus Cologne.

So..let me know..what you have heard?..and that brings up the Cleveland 2014 discussion..but for another day..

Love All

Live from Cologne reported by Sonya Lewis, tennis player from Team Colorado

We have arrived..in fantastic Berlin. “Ich bin ein Berliner for sure. We walked around the Grimmstaße (Turkish neighborhood) with the canals, boutiques, plentiful cafes and lots of nightlife. Grilled meats and hummus platters have never tasted so great.

Our fantastic hosts and fellow tennis players, Nana Fischer and Susanne Decker are the best..and ” Thank the Goddess” their english is impeccable.We have already driven past the Bradenburg Gate, the Memory Church (Kaiser Wilhelm Gedaechtnis Kirche) and KuDamm (Berlin’s Rodeo Drive) and will come back to stroll near them later in our trip. We whisked past the old Check Point Charlie entrance to the American quarter of Berlin and stared at the historical Russian entrance, I have named “Putinville”.

The air is clean and fresh, there are no bugs at night and the energy of the city is vibrant and alluring.The four of us have so much to catch up on since last year in Copenhagen that our tongues will be wagging all though the night. Our big topic tonight is the Myers Brigg personality tests. What is your Myers Brigg? Since our hosts are both Psychological Therapists it was wonderfully fun to teach them about the concept and guess their personalities.

After many hours of many topics..it is finally sleepytime.

Love All….