Gay Games VI Tennis
Mixed Doubles Division C
- Round of 32: Bye
- Round of 16: Barron McConnachie & Sandra Laurie
(CAN) defeat Steve Shultz (USA) & Jacqui Kinder (AUS): 0-6, 7-5, 6-1
This is a hard journal entry to write. My second hope for an Olympic medal was dashed Wednesday in Sydney after
an edge-of-your-steat mixed doubles match that pitted me and my assigned Aussie partner Jacqui Kinder against a
mixed doubles team, the number 2 seeds, from Vancouver, Canada -- Barron McConnachie and Sandra Laurie.
After a flawless first set which ended in our favor at 6-0, Jacqui and I were clearly on a roll. Mine and Jacqui's
serves were right-on; Jacqui's volleying and overall play was as solid and beautiful as in her victorious singles matches;
and my lobs and passing shots -- so ineffective against Greg Hopa in singles yesterday -- hit their mark time and again this
time. The first set felt awesome, and I will cherish it always -- along with my singles victory Monday over Canadian
Ken MacDonald -- as being my greatest athletic moments of these Games.
But the Canadians, to thier credit, dug in their heels and fought back in the second set to go up 5-1 against us.
Sensing the match slipping away, we in turn fought our hardest to win the next four games in a row, bringing it to 5-5.
The match hung in the balance. But, alas, the Canadians won the next two games to take the second set.
The third set failed to offer us much hope, as the other team continued to gather steam, clinching the match with
a final rollercoaster score of 0-6, 7-5, 6-1. My feeling is that if Jacqui and I had a few weeks -- instead of just
a few days -- to practice together, we would have seen a second set much like the first. Passersby commented on
how well we played together -- and I look forward to playing with her again.
Jacqui and I consoled each other and then were consoled by our Aussie cheering squad -- two wonderful lasses
from Melbourne who held up a 'Jaq & Steve' banner and cheered us on through the entire match. Now Jaqcui goes
on to try to win her next rounds in singles and regular doubles today, and I wish her the best of luck. Go
get 'em Jacqui!
I've set some special tennis goals I plan to acheive to compensate for my early exit from the singles and mixed doubles
competition of the Sydney Games. They are:
1. End this year (2003) Number One in Grand Prix points on the San Diego Tennis Federation challenge ladder;
2. Win a trophy in doubles with my boyfriend Fernando as my doubles partner in 2003 (get ready Fernando!);
3. Play my first B-Division tennis tournament in 2003 and win a trophy in B before the end of 2003;
4. Win a medal or medals in tennis in the 2006 Gay Games VII in Montreal (with Fernando as my doubles partner and
Jacqui as my mixed doubles partner -- Jacqui and I have already agreed to team up again in mixed doubles in Montreal!)
Perhaps a tall order, but I'm determined to achieve every one of these goals.
Now I turn my attention to excersizing my creative side in the Sydney Games. Thursday night I compete for
a medal in the Poetic Justice poetry slam. Of course I've learned by now not pin my hopes on winning a medal, but to
take great pleasure instead in the joy of competing, and competiing well -- knowing that one day, if not today, my Olympic
moment will come.
Thanks to all who have e-mailed me and all who are keeping tabs on my Olympic journey thorugh the Web site. Stay
tuned!
