Imagine being across the Earth for a second. The sun on your face as nervous sweat drips down your forehead. You’re ready. Everything has led to this moment. Your senses are sharp. You can hear a pin drop if you tried. Suddenly you hear a beep and you jump in the pool wearing a cute pair of Speedos. You’re ready to kick so much butt in the water it’ll leave your competition wet for days! You travel the world competing in LGBT sports events with other gay athletes and have the time of your lives.

Now you can’t imagine traveling without your new group of BFFs. Although this swim competition is one of many, you gave it your very best and now you’re ready for the after-party. I travel with an LGBT sports team and it’s a style of travel most people don’t consider.

In the world of travel, you have everything from budget to luxury travel. You have backpackers and beach lovers. There’s Education Abroad Travelers to Workaway programs that help you get a job in any country. Then we have LGBT sports or gay athletics, a style of travel open to everyone but it flies slightly under the radar…

I happen to be a gay swimmer and I want to show you how to travel with an LGBT sports team. For us gay swimmers, we work out hard and play harder. In fact, right after the swim meet, we jump in the showers, take off the only article of clothing we have and actually shoot the breeze in the nude. It’s an incredibly bonding experience. Your swim mates become your new best friends. They’re your partners in crime. These new people will travel the world with you as you go from country to country participating in gay athletic events. Having done it myself, the memories you make on these trips last a lifetime.

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The thing is, not many people know about gay swim teams or the many other LGBT sports that travel the world competing. Growing up swimming means swimming is more of a lifestyle choice for me. Therefore, when I arrive in any city or country, the first thing I look for is a pool or a swim team. I was lucky enough to swim with the gay Barcelona swim team when I was 22. When I moved back to Southern California I found another gay swim team. They are the team I currently train with.

These swim teams are called Master Swim Teams, and they’re for life-long swimmers and beginners to stay in shape. However, the best part is what comes with it.

Depending on your team, they will help you travel to international competitions. Some will even pay for your flight. Although I may not go to all the swim competitions, I’ve been to several. Speaking from experience, they’re everything you can imagine and more!

LGBT Sports, Travel and Gay Swim Meets

From here things only get better. Several organizations pride themselves on having world meets or international LGBT sports competitions. This means, as the months and years go by you get to meet the teams. You’ll meet the gay Paris team. You’ll discover what makes the gay Australian swim team so edgy. You’ll laugh at the jokes of the gay Barcelona team. Perhaps you’ll even make friends with the gay Utah team as I did.

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When I travel, I train with teams in the city I’m traveling in. They include you and consider you part of the family from the start. They’ll take you out and show you their city. It’s a beautiful built-in network of friendship. It becomes an addiction just like travel. It opens you to possibilities and takes away lots of fears and insecurities.

When it comes to gay swim competitions, they happen often. Some rotate. Some happen every four years. Others happen once a year. Nevertheless, there’s always something happening each month.

For starters, we have IGLA (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics.) This international competition happens yearly or once every two years. This year, the competition is in New York City during World Pride. Not only will you be in New York City swimming that cute butt off. You’ll also be in the middle of the biggest gay event ON THE PLANET!

Gay Games is a game-changer. It’s basically the gay Olympics. Gay Games is every four years. It runs like the Olympics and every sport is invited to attend from all reaches of the Earth. From swimming to water polo to gay soccer and gay wrestling competitions. This is the competition everyone wants to be in… The next one is in Hong Kong in 2022. I can’t wait. I will definitely be there rocking my Speedos!

With the work hard play harder mentality, these worldly events have fun after-parties at bars, nightly outings, museum ventures, and everything else you can think of. The best part is, there’s eye candy as far as the eye can see.

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If you’re single, well that’s another story altogether. Because, let’s face it, options are limitless at these events.

Are you starting to see how becoming a gay athlete can help you stay in shape and travel the world?

The Next Big Gay Swim Competitions Include:

2019 is IGLA in New York City during World Pride. The gay New York City team is hosting this competition. It’s this July. If you’re in NYC make sure to check it out!

2020 is also IGLA in Melbourne Australia

2021 EuroGames takes place in Copenhagen during World Pride

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2022 Gay Games in Hong Kong

These are the big swim competitions everyone wants to attend. However, smaller cities like San Diego California also have gay swim competitions. In fact, the gay San Diego swim team is hosting teams from all over California soon.

Every January is the annual Las Vegas Sin City competition. All gay sports are welcome. Most people stay in the same hotel, so meeting other gay athletes is pretty easy.

The Gay Utah team hosts their Valentine’s Day gay swim competition every February. Enter as a team or go as an individual.

Vienna also does a winter competition every February. The list goes on and on.

I happen to be a swimmer. Therefore, I swim and travel with my Master Swim team. But you don’t have to be a swimmer. You can pick any of the LGBT sports out there. Gay rugby, wrestling, soccer, kickball, softball, running. However, I only know about aquatics.

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So how easy is it to get on these LGBT Sports teams? If you can make it one workout, you can usually stay. But I should mention, swimming is like boot camp. Although, I think boot camp is easier.

Traveling is amazing regardless of which style you choose. I love it all. However, traveling with a gay team is one wild and fit style of travel you can’t imagine. 

How Can You Find a Gay Swim Team?

Check out the IGLA registered teams here.

Looking for Master swim teams in your area gay or not? Check out the US Masters organization.

Looking for a master swim team in Southern California? Here is the Southern Pacific Master Swimming organization.

Even if there isn’t a gay master swim team in your city you can still compete in gay competitions if you join any master swim team.

So what’s your travel style? Are you a backpacker? Perhaps you’re a weekend traveler? Or are you a gay athlete traveling the world competing at LGBT sports events? Hope to see you in the next major competition.

Let Me Break It Down For You:

From all the different styles to choose from, traveling with LGBT sports clubs is a sure way to stay fit, make friends, and go to gay events throughout the world.

Have I traveled the world swimming on a gay swim team going to gay swim competitions? You bet I have! Do I recommend it? Oh yes!

Every team is different and I can’t speak to them all, but some teams are like family. You put so much into the water and leave with a great family.

If you want to work out hard and play harder a gay swim team can help with that. If you’re trying to travel the world in search of gay competitions (and fun gay parties) with members from the LBGT sports community from around the globe, a gay swim team is one of the best options.

Join a LGBT sports team. Travel the world and have fun!

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