Now she says she understands the entire problem has been the jellyfish all along (she talks about it in a video after the jump), and she’s figuring out, with the help of various companies, how to protect herself from those.

While these swims are starting to feel a little bit like the boy who cried wolf, we have to praise Nyad for not letting go of her dream. Too often people accept rejection and setbacks on the first try. Nyad won’t be stopped, which is a testament to her character.

We’ll again follow her in this crusade and hope she finally completes her dream of 34 years.

You can follow Nyad’s quest on Twitter.

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Speedo claims that swimmers will gain an extra 11 per cent in oxygen economy by wearing the system – allowing them to swim stronger for longer.

It also reduces skin friction drag by 2.7 per cent and full body drag force by 5.7 per cent.

It’s unclear what competitive advantage the suit will have, but swimmers like Michael Phelps (a Speedo spokesman) are jazzed about it. Phelps has certainly been working out and it shows as he modeled a suit in London.

The full-body swimsuit caused all sorts of records to be broken, which created an unfair advantage for swimmers who could afford them. They were also a crime against nature since they covered up some beautiful bodies. The Fastskin is a definite improvement.

Below, British swimmers Liam Tamcock and Rebecca Adlington model the suits (Speedo photos). Click here for more swimmers modeling the suit, including some acrobats.

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According to Open Water Source, Ricardo Valdivia was the first out of the water in about 22 minutes. From the photos it looks like it was a windy, wavy day; But in South Florida the water’s always perfect.

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It raises a big question: Should boys be allowed to play on girls teams? And is that answer different when you’re talking about individual sports like swimming and track versus team sports like basketball and field hockey?

To be clear, we’re not talking about transgender athletes here. There are steps, including surgery and hormone treatments, a MTF trans athlete can take to participate as a female. These boys haven’t taken those steps.

I feel badly for everyone involved. One coach talked about a girl who lost out on a state championship years ago because she was beaten by a boy. And you know the boy must hear about it in school. But if a boy doesn’t have a male team at his high school, should he skip the sport all together? Is that fair?

Tough issue.

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What a difference 10 years makes! Not only are openly gay swimmers visible all over the world – but swimming is also recognized as one of the most progressive and accepting sports with regard to sexual identity. And it’s not just high school and college athletes – elite swimmers like Brian Jacobsen and Jeff Commings are proving that you can simultaneously embrace your sexual identity, your love of competition, and the desire so many athletes have to continue improving – not matter what their chronological age may be. Their accomplishments are historic and ground-breaking and I sincerely hope they don’t go unnoticed!!

Congratulations to both Brian and Jeff on their inspiring accomplishments!

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Andrew is out to his parents and close friends and has a boyfriend, but I am choosing to not use his last name since he wants to come out to everyone on his own terms. He says that he is “awful at writing and love strawberries.” I will trust him on the latter but don’t believe the former. Despite some grammatical errors, he is a very expressive writer who posts on a wide range of subjects from his desire for a six-pack and his love of Ke$ha (yep, he’s gay), to the NoH8 campaign, his coming out process, high school fashion and his swimming season.

One of my favorite posts was his description of his date with Duke, his boyfriend. They went to an amusement park that had a Halloween theme:

We even held hands outside of the mazes. Some people commented on us. Surprisingly, a lot of people were saying things like “You guys make it possible”, and “Here’s to you guys” which I’m pretty sure was a good thing. We even had a little girl ask us why we were holding hands, Duke just kinda shouted back as we were moving through the crowd, “It’s because we’re gay!” I liked that, being open with complete strangers. …

Cold from the park we drove to my house quickly. I quick told my parents who were sleeping that Duke and I got home. They just nodded and we went upstairs to my room and talked a lot. And cuddled, lots of cuddling It was awesome warming up with him. I felt invincible with happiness. It was great, we both wished that he could’ve stayed and just slept together on my tiny twin mattress.

However, Duke needed to get home so at 12 we got into my car, and drove to his car which was at his school (So his parents couldn’t track his car). We kissed goodbye and drove our separate ways home. It was magical.

Andrew hopes to take Duke to the senior prom, so that will be one angle I am certain he will explore. He does an awesome job with his blog and is another sign that many gay teen athletes are willing to share their stories and become a resource. I urge you to check out the Transpiration of Andrew.

I also like his sense of humor, which come through in his writing (his Twitter feed is called “It Gets Wetter“). I asked him for a picture he would like to run with this and he sent me:

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It’s impossible to rank certain of the moments over others so I’ve chosen to list them chronologically.  The key moments are heavily weighted to the 1980s and ‘90s simply because most of our firsts took place during those decades.

LGBT aquatics still has some firsts to accomplish, notably in Latin America, Africa and mainland Asia, but IGLA is an indicator of stability and success – IGLA’s current membership totals more than 60 teams in 15 countries.  As well, there are a number of other predominantly LGBT swimming teams around the world not in IGLA that take part in local and regional competitions, spreading the same messages of LGBT sport as they go.

1.  Gay Games I, 1982. None of us knew who and how many would show up for swimming and diving that August in San Francisco – and 125 enthusiastic and somewhat giddy people did.  We competed in odd age groups with uneven officiating in an unconventional format of prelims for two days and finals the following two nights.  It was OK for this first meet because we were preoccupied out of the water getting to know each other: “I swam with [blank].  Our coach was [fantastic/pathetic].”  “Did you know [so and so]?”  “I did!  Did you think [he/she] was gay?”  Most competitors were from Los Angeles and San Francisco with others from cities such as Boston, Honolulu, Minneapolis, New York, San Diego and Sydney.  Rafael Montijo (Los Angeles) and Morri Spang (Minneapolis) led a meeting after the second day of prelims to formalize a network and agree that future competitions would follow standard Masters rules.  Rafael became the official points-person for names and addresses of LGBT swimmers and groups around the world.

2.  Beginning of IGLA, Gay Games II, 1986. News of Gay Games I spread widely – 400 swimmers and divers competed using standard Masters rules and age groups in the 25-yard outdoor pool at Laney College in Oakland.  Faster swimmers showed up, including several who’d competed in NCAA Division I.  But the key aquatics moment of this second Gay Games took place at a team leaders’ meeting in which we decided we were having too much fun to wait another four years to gather again.  We decided to start an annual championship tournament and San Diego agreed to be the first host.  Although it took until the next year at that first annual meet to plan for an organization name, bylaws and officers, the team leaders’ meeting at Gay Games II was the genesis of International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA).

3.  First world records, Gay Games III, 1990. Michael (Mike) Mealiffe of West Hollywood Aquatics set the first world Masters records in LGBT competitions, breaking the existing marks in the 50-54 age group in the 50 and 100 m. butterfly races (long course).  Mike’s accomplishment stopped Gay Games critics from the casual dismissal that LGBT competitions weren’t “real sports.”

4.  Bruce Hayes, first Olympic medalist, Gay Games III, 1990. A number of prominent Olympians from several countries have taken part in LGBT aquatics over the years, but Bruce – anchor leg of the U.S.’ gold medal winning 4 x 200 m. freestyle “Grossbusters” relay from 1984 – was the first.  Bruce competed at Vancouver’s 1990 Gay Games and went on to set five Masters world marks in his hometown of New York at Gay Games IV in 1994, including being the first Masters swimmer to break four minutes in the 400 m. freestyle (short course).  Bruce has been a prominent spokesman for the LGBT community ever since and continues training and competing today.

5.  Pink Flamingo relay/skits, Gay Games III, 1990. The Pink Flamingo show at the IGLA Championships and Gay Games is now a much-anticipated, ticketed entertainment that has literally brought many once-skeptical meet officials, parents and friends completely around to supporting LGBT teams.  First, some New Yorkers cross-dressed for fun at pool events during Gay Games I and II and showed up costumed to swim joke relays at the first IGLA Championships in 1987.  Then, Vancouver hosted a dual meet with Seattle swimmers and used plastic pink lawn flamingos as relay batons.  Seattle went on to host a Pink Flamingo Relay event at their Northwest Gay & Lesbian Sportsfest which drew swimmers from around North America, and the Pink Flamingo Relay became a feature at IGLA’s annual championships.  At Vancouver’s 1990 Gay Games Pink Flamingo event, several dozen teams showed up ready to go, parading around the English Bay Aquatic Centre in outfits ranging from Madonna’s cone bra to Robert Palmer’s sashaying models, leather mermen to Ariel the Little Mermaid, costumed superheroes to Salem witches on roller skates, and the now-legendary “That Girl” Marlos – 40 of them – from New York.  As West Hollywood’s Tom Wilson, himself a prominent Pink Flamingo participant, said in 1994, everything about the Pink Flamingo came together at Gay Games III.  It’s been a source of silliness, notoriety, photo ops and pride ever since.

6.  EuroGames II in The Hague, 1993. This first LGBT aquatics championship held in Europe is the key moment swimmers in the continent were inspired to begin their own swimming teams.  Continental swimmers fought their own battles within Masters circles, notably reversing an initial rejection of Brussels’ gay team when it sought membership in the Belgian swimming association.  The 2004 EuroGames in Munich held the largest predominantly-European LGBT aquatics competition, and today there are out teams even in eastern European countries.

7.  Greg Louganis, Gay Games IV, 1994. Two years after solidifying his reputation as the greatest diver of all time at the Barcelona Olympic Games, Greg came out in carefully-planned but no less riveting fashion during Gay Games IV.  The gold medal comeback story of Greg’s head injury hitting the board in Barcelona’s 3 m. springboard competition not only was still fresh in the world’s mind but took on new relevance.  He already was a symbol of Olympic excellence and that year Greg became a face for HIV-positive people everywhere.  An HIV+ diagnosis was still particularly grim in 1994 – protease inhibitors didn’t come to market until 1995 – and Greg’s presence during the reading of aquatics participants’ names lost to AIDS since Gay Games I took on special poignancy.  Greg had so much fun during his exhibition performance in a packed, supportive house the first night of diving that he agreed to do it again the second night.

8.  Synchronized swimming added to IGLA competitions, 1995. Montreal’s À Contre-Courant team added synchronized swimming when they hosted the 1985 IGLA Championships.  LGBT synchro teams are regularly profiled in the media at Masters competitions around the world.  The teams are a mix of men and women but the all-male teams have been a bit of a ground-breaking novelty – there are almost no all-male teams except those who formed through the LGBT ranks.  Particular credit goes to the groups in Paris and San Francisco who have trained and competed consistently since this discipline was added to the aquatics schedule.

9.  First inclusion of sexual orientation in nondiscrimination language of a national aquatics organization’s bylaws, USA Water Polo, 1999. In January 1999, USA Water Polo added “sexual orientation” to the nondiscrimination language of its Diversity Vision Statement.  To the best of our knowledge, this was a first by an national aquatics governing body.  That it was initially accomplished by a water polo group – a bastion of macho toughness – makes the symbolism even more significant.

10.  FINA decision to deny world records at Gay Games 2010 and Asia-Pacific Outgames 2011. Things have been so steadily positive and bright in recent years for the LGBT aquatics movement that FINA’s decision not to recognize Masters marks set at Cologne’s Gay Games and Wellington’s Outgames has been a bit stunning.  Efforts to reverse this decision are ongoing as it appears arbitrary – officiating in Cologne and, to my understanding, Wellington was every bit as professional as at New York’s Gay Games IV in 1994 when sixteen world Masters marks were set and FINA recognized them all.

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He gave his parents a letter detailing his coming out, figuring it would better convey his feelings than just having a talk. What he wrote is beautiful and I loved his twist on the five stages of grief:

The 5 steps to the process are anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I was angry when I first knew I was gay because I knew not everyone would accept it and understand it. I didn’t even accept it at that point or understand it.

That led to denial, thinking it was just a phase and something I would eventually outgrow, though deep down I knew it wasn’t. Bargaining was me trying to pass as a bisexual in my head, thinking maybe it was just hormones because that’s very common in teenagers. That led to depression which was for me mixed with all the stages. There were bad times, especially when my anxiety disorder became severe. It was my mind’s way of worrying about small and irrational things in an attempt to cover up the larger problem- of being closeted- in my life.

But it’s time for me to come out. I can’t keep living my life as a lie and monitor everything I do or say in case I would accidentally “out” myself. …

I’m in the acceptance stage of the process. … I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way, because being me, being gay and in a minority, has allowed me to be compassionate towards so many other people who are misunderstood and made fun of.

Sam, who will be on his school’s swim team this winter, then uses two posts (Part 2, Part 3) to detail the reaction, which was generally positive, but not without some strain from his parents, who were shocked by the news.

They started asking me questions. And, I hate to say this, I got angry at some of them. I really need to work on not being so short-tempered a lot of the time; I have to remember this is all new to them. [My dad] was asking if I saw gay porn to know if I was gay, and I fired back with “Do you need to see porn to know you’re straight?” …

I feel guilty now for getting mad at their questions. I sort of thought they would know more, and so I got angry at questions that I thought were too “obvious.” It was wrong of me, I should have been more open and clear, but some of this stuff is tough to talk about. I shouldn’t assume that what’s obvious for me isn’t always as clear to them.

Sam also posted on Facebook that he is gay (he announced with this status update: “I’m gay.” “You’re gay?” “Yeah, I’m gay.” “So..you like guys?” No, I like cardboard) and was very nervous heading back to school for the first time as an openly gay person. But there was no reaction, which he took as a good sign, though he is prepared if there is trouble.

Gay people are just as worthy and capable and successful. I know school will get hard once I come out, and I’m aware of that and the choice I’m making. It’s harder to live as a closeted gay guy than it is to be honest and get criticism for it. Some people will be fine with it, others won’t, but I’m not going to let that stop me. I’m going to try a lot of new things from now on because I am not afraid of not being the best. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be the best, or be a leader, to enjoy something and be proud of it and be strong.

Sam’s coming out shows the power of reaching out. He started his blog after being inspired by the Brad, Robert, Ben blog by three teen athletes. He then posted a comment on Outsports about his site, which I saw. I then wrote about him, which attracted more readers, many of who gave him great and practical advice. I also connected Sam with an openly gay 15-year-old high school volleyball player (whose story will appear on Outsports) and he was a tremendous help to Sam. All this support gave him the strength to come out.

I encourage you all to read Sam’s coming out letter and post a comment on his page to show your support. It’s amazing how far he has come in less than two weeks after he started telling his story in public.

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Click on the poster to the right for more details!

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This year I will be passionate about swimming. Even if I sometimes get tired of the repetitive laps. Even if my body aches, or I worry if I look good enough in a speedo. Me swimming has nothing to do with any of that. It has to do with me trying new things (or re-trying old ones); getting a good workout that makes me feel better and stronger; and, most of all, having the support of friends and a team. Experiencing my life with other people, so I’m not so fucking alone all the time. I can’t quit again for stupid reasons. Unless I’m truly dissatisfied doing something, I won’t allow my negative and anxious feelings control me. I won’t let any negative stereotypes of being gay get into my head and ruin my season.

I know Sam’s full name and his high school (it’s about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia), but am not using it since he is not out to his family and I did not want them to stumble across his blog, which is not yet a week old. I think he should come out on his own terms. He is an engaging and gifted writer and what comes through is a guy who is lonely and introspective, yet determined to make connections and reach out to others like him. His inspiration was the blog Brad, Robert, Ben that we wrote about early this year. As Sam told me:

I decided to start the blog because I was really inspired by Robert, Brad, and Ben. I wanted to write blogs before but I just thought it’d be ridiculous of me to do it. But then I saw their blog and it was honest and it meant something, and I’m very tired of feeling lonely and disconnected from a lot of my guy peers so I was hoping I could connect with them and other gay teens like me.

One theme that has shown up in Sam’s posts is inadequacy, his feeling that being gay meant he couldn’t be good enough as an athlete. It’s something he is determined to conquer:

Last year, during my sophomore year, I quit the swim team. I didn’t try out for volleyball. I didn’t do the things I wanted because I just felt not good enough when I compared myself to the other guys. Honestly, comparing yourself to others is fucking hard. Don’t do it, and if you do (I mean we all do sometime or another) don’t let the thoughts define you. I knew it was the wrong choice but I felt like I couldn’t control it. I just didn’t feel like one of the guys. But I’ve learned that doesn’t matter. Whenever we put ourselves down, when we don’t feel like one of the guys, or we don’t feel good enough, we need to realize we are good enough. We are strong enough. We are athletic and talented and gifted enough. Being gay does not mean I am not as capable and adequate as every other guy. I let myself think that for too long and didn’t take chances that may have given me a bunch of friends and the support of a team. I am not going to make that mistake again, and I hope, whoever is reading this, that you don’t let negative thoughts and feelings stop you from achieving what you want either.

Sam’s latest post is “I can’t quit again,” which could be his mantra and that of any young gay athlete struggling to fit in. Sam told me he thinks he would be accepted as gay by the swim team, though he is aware that he could be made fun of.

I urge people to check out Sam I Am and post comments or drop him a line. He especially wants to hear from other gay teens or athletes. I think these blogs can make a difference and welcome hearing new and powerful voices from people like Sam.

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