I would hope the WORLD athletes would stand in solidarity with the GAY athletes. To me, this is a question of 'humanity' not 'politics'.
This was in my newspaper this morning. He went to a local Catholic high school and was in Russia yesterday for the track World Championships.
Former Bishop Kelly High standout dedicates medal to his gay friends.STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
MOSCOW, Russia — Nick Symmonds is not one for holding back opinions — especially after winning his first major international medal.
The two-time Olympian finished second behind Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia at the world championships Tuesday in Russia.
Aman, the 19-year-old indoor world champion, ran his best time of the season — 1 minute, 43.31 seconds. Symmonds, who finished fifth at the London Olympics with a personal-best 1:42.95, ran a 1:43.55.
Symmonds is the first American to medal in the 800 since 1997, and the first American to medal at the meet.
“With 100 to go, I flipped that switch. At 750, I was pretty sure I was going to be the next world champion. But Aman’s tough. He finds a way to get to that line, and he did that tonight,’’ Symmonds said. “I crossed the line, and of course I was angry that I had come that close and wasn’t the champion, but at the same time, I’m going home with something to show for it. I really did everything I could to win tonight. I didn’t race scared, I put myself out there and ran for gold, so there’s no shame in finishing second in that kind of race.’’
Afterwards, he ripped the host country for its new anti-gay law that is threatening to become a dark cloud for the Sochi Olympics in February.
“As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them,’’ he told Russia’s R-Sport. “Whether you’re gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there’s anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested.
“I respect Russians’ ability to govern their people. I disagree with their laws. I do have respect for this nation. I disagree with their rules.’’
www.idahostatesman.com/2013/08/14/2704983/symmonds-wins-800-silver-rips.htmlRead more here:
www.idahostatesman.com/2013/08/14/2704983/symmonds-wins-800-silver-rips.html#storylink=cpy
he's handsome too ...