Masters success for gay athletes
Team Sydney members more than proved themselves, taking out a raft of medals at the World Masters Games held around Sydney over the weekend.
From cycling to swimming, and everything in between, you can be guaranteed that there as a gay group in most events.
The volleyballers came home adorned in neck ornaments, with team Ewok placing 10th, and Boomza taking home a hard-earned set of silver medals in the over-40s category. The team lost to the Russian entry, but it was still considered a triumph, according to Khit Jartnoi.
“We threw everything at them, they were like octopuses, arms just came from nowhere and returned the ball,” he said. “We have to be happy with silver, we were outplayed by a taller and stronger team.”
The Freezone Young ‘Uns had similar victory, taking gold in the over 30s, recreational division. As did the women, who took bronze in the women’s beach quads for over 35s, and gold in the general over 35s comp.
Another sportsman, Matt Webster, of the Frontrunner’s group further did his community proud taking out some sweeping victories, including: gold in the 1500m and 5km track events and silver in the 800 metre event.
info: For more pictures from Masters visit www.starobserver.com.au/scene
Seven of our regular divers: Katy, Jacqui, Justyn, John, Stephen, Kim and James competed at the World Masters Games last week. They achieved remarkable results with Katy and Jacqui winning silver in the women’s synchronised 3m event, Katy winning two more bronze medals in women’s 1m and 3m events, and Stephen bringing home bronze in the men’s platform event amid tough competition with other divers. Justyn, John, Kim and James also performed brilliantly, nailing dives that they had been training on leading up to the Games.
A big thank you to our head coach Martha, other coaches Vyninka, Carlie and Tommo, and our supporters to enable us to achieve these remarkable results.
An incident that had the potential to damage a group of volunteers and Freezone volleyballers on the train became a non event thanks to the quick intervention of City Rail Transit Officers.
“We were travelling to Central from Olympic Park when a guy got on and began loudly to verbally abuse us,” said Ron. “We were watching him get more agitated and yelling things like, ‘Bloody queens… fagots shouldn’t be allowed on the train’ and we were not sure what was going to happen next.” said Pejay Clark.
“I mean, there were international sports people competing at the events at Homebush who were looking really uncomfortable by what he was saying,” said Pejay. “Many of the people around us were people we had worked with or refereed over the course of the day, they knew us and had no problem with us being our natural selves and gay.”
It was stamped out very quickly at the next stop. Five Transit Officers entered the carriage from all directions, grabbed the guy and hauled him out of the train before anyone really knew what was happening. “We didn’t say anything, I don’t know how they found out, but the reaction was quick and effective. Our fellow passengers were just as relieved as us, but it took a further 3 – 4 stops before conversation moved away from the incident,” said Pejay.
Whilst this came as a shock to me, as I did not see or hear of any other homophobic behaviour over the course of the World Masters; on behalf of the Freezoners involved we wanted to say thanks to the City Rail Transit Officers for their quick actions, as this was not possible on the night of the incident.
Wally – President – Freezone Volleyball Club
Thanks you SSO for covering this event so well. We appreciate the photos you put up; my work mates and bosses have really added some great emailed congratulations based you your story.
WMG international competition was so different from anything I have played (I have been playing for nearly 30 years, including in the Australian domestic ‘State League’ [yes I have a good long term memory bitches!])but the international exposure lifts the sport to new level. Playing with my own age group is something foreign – I rely on fast legs and quick reflexes of others normally – suddenly all the team feel the same difficulty and pain from our 9 games.
It was like going a few rounds against Ali in the ring: the only part not hurting was the roof of my mouth and the soles of my feet. ‘Even my hair hurts,’ said Les! Gay Games Cologne here we come!