Medal Quest Goes On The Job

(25 days to the start of the Gay Games) If you ask an Olympic medallist like Tom Daley or Andy Murray what their job is they’ll say “diver” or “tennis player”. But if you ask a medallist at the Gay Games, Outgames, or any other lgbt sporting event what their job is most of them won't say anything which is sports related. They train as hard as professionals but don’t do it for a living. They’ve very much in the mould of the original Olympians of the modern era.

In my researches into lgbt sports I have come across many athletes whose professions are far removed from the sport in which they compete. It’s worth looking at some of them. What they all prove is that you don’t need to be a professional athlete to succeed in sports, and the job you do shouldn’t dictate what sport you play. 

Quite a few Gay Games athletes work in the sports industry – as coaches or personals trainers, etc. – and some are professional or retired athletes. I won’t mention them today. In order to present this list I chose one letter of the alphabet at random and went through my Gay Games database to find 30 medallists whose professions are quite different from their sport. A large proportion of them have also competed in the Outgames and the EuroGames. Although it’s a varied list it doesn’t include other professions I could mention if I chose another letter, like US Ambassador, priest, gay porn actor, or Emmy-winning casting director. 

The athlete’s name is followed by their main profession and then the sport in which they won their medal/s. 

Walter Baardemans – journalist - badminton

Eduardo Luis Bahamon – cytogeneticist - diving

Cara Balboni - clinical social worker - in-line skating

Lenora Barot – ex-Prof. of Plastic Surgery, now writer of lesbian romances - martial arts

Orlando Barsallo – make-up artist - bodybuilding

Jarrett Basedow – international aid worker - tennis

Lynn (Allwyn) Baskin – actor - figure skating

Alec Bates – chemistry professor - cycling

Sybille Bauriedl – political and environmental ecologist - table tennis

Kevin Batungbacal – real estate agent – beach volleyball

Alexandra Bayliss – archaeologist – dancesport

Terry Bean – political fundraiser and lgbt rights pioneer – golf

Elizabeth Bellinger – school teacher – swimming

Steven Berveling – barrister - cycling

George Birimisa – playwright and actor – bodybuilding

Roger Blenman – poet and spoken-word artist - wrestling

Reggie Blennerhasset – university Pro Vice-Chancellor – sailing

Bruce Bornfleth – doctor – swimming

Keith Boykin – White House aide to President Clinton - wrestling

Kevin Brauer – registered nurse – ice hockey

Carter Bravmann – architect – cycling

Emma Jane Brennan – photographer - swimming

Rosina Bruno – journalist - tennis

Salvador Burgaleta – architect - swimming

Kristopher Burrell – Assistant Professor of History - wrestling

Jana Burton – maths teacher - athletics

Wolfgang Busch – film-maker – table tennis

Toby Butterfield – law lecturer – squash

Todd Buttery – lgbt festival organiser - swimming 

Finally, and with a note of congratulations to double gold-winning marathon runner – Jake Bartholomy, a physical therapist. He and his husband, Dr. Justin Goodman, became the proud fathers of a son, Park Bartholomy Goodman, on 30^th May.