GOLD - Me??!?!??!?
Terry Ridge

Since my background in sports revolves around Water Polo and Swimming, it was natural for me to participate in both sports. Not necessarily and easy task in Gay Games. I've been a competitive swimmer since 1956 (when I was 4) and have been lucky enough to have had the best coaches in the world my entire athletic career. As a result of my exceptional training, I was able set several state, college, high school, and AAU records as I grew up.

However, I think one of my greatest thrills in water sports happened at Gay Games VBC. At the behest of my swim team, the San Diego Different Strokes Swim Team (by the way, I coached this team later for some time) I entered as many events as is allowable under Masters Swimming Rules. Those events included individual and relay team events.

As the competition advanced, however, I became less interested in some of the exteraneous events I had entered and more so with Water Polo for which I was also a participant in the capacity as Head Coach for the San Diego Cygnets Water Polo Team. Our chances of winning the Water Polo Tournament were actually quite good because of the quality of players we had in combination with my many years of playing for only the best coaches and the coaching skills I acquired as a result, as well as the very adept and talented assistance of Mr. Robert Lenzi as my Assistant Coach / Player / Team Captain. I found myself in a position of having to perform a few to many events in both sports at times that were either conflicting time wise or were just simply to close together to get rested in between. So, I withdrew from several of my individual swimming events and concentrated on my best stroke, which was backstroke.

My first thrill was my 50M Backstroke event. At the time of my event heat, as I got in the water I looked around me to scrutinize my competition and thereby better my chances of winning (at least that heat, anyway). As I did so, I was definitely feeling challenged. There were any number of very well trained swimmers in my event and I felt I was in for a real competitive race. But, as the starter set us up for the 'gun', I was very nervous but ready. At the sound of the 'gun' I entered the water and soon realized I was basically all alone in this event and many lengths ahead of every other swimmer in the pool. As I finished, I looked around to see most of the other competitors not even half way finished down the pool. So, I rationalized to myself the 'seeding' was poorly developed by the deck masters. I soon realized that it wasn't the deck master, it was the fact that I just really didn't have any competition in that event. Later in the day when I least suspected it, Mr. Mark Wussler stopped me top deck to tell me that I had won the GOLD. I thought he was joking and didn't pay attention until I heard that I had won the GOLD announced over the loud speakers for every one to hear and to know. My swim set a Gay Games record that remains unbroken to this day. I'm proud of that fact, but even more proud that I was able to participate in what was then the single largest athletic event in the world. The Olympics costs many millions more to put on, but there were approximately 15,000 participants at Gay Games III which was almost double the number of participants in the Olympics. Diversity at it's best.

Once I had withdrawn from my other swim events, including relays, I was able to concentrate on coaching and directing the San Diego Cygnets in their quest for the GOLD. A play by play of the Champioship game between the San Diego Cygnets Water Polo Team and the Los Angeles Pacific Fleet Water Polo Team would be too lengthy for this story, however, the highlight of the game came down to the final 10 seconds. LA was in possession of the ball at their goal end and was beginning to make a drive towards the Cygnets goal when suddenly Bob Lenzi and John of the Cygnets managed to steal the ball from the LA players in front of their goal and made the winning goal within 4 seconds of the end of the game. It was then and there I and my team went down in history as the Championship GOLD Medalists of the first ever Water Polo Tournament at any Gay Games in history. I am very proud of my players and very proud to have the distinction of being the very first Champioship GOLD Medalist Team Coach in Gay Games history. It is an honor I carry with pride, dignity, and immense satisfaction.

I went onto New York for Gay Games IV there and was the only San Diego swimmer to win a GOLD medal. That is a distinction I carry humbley and with great pride and as well.

That's my story - Gay Games produces in many a sense of participation on a scale and magnitude great enough to make the whole world sit up and recognize the significant contributions of Gays, Lesbians, Transexual, and Transgender human beings and places them in a light of honesty and beauty. BUT, didn't we already know that all along?

Gay Games is yet another forum for our community to elevate itself to that level where everyone can only make the observation that we do indeed deserve dignity, respect, and equality.