“As a gay athlete, it’s easy to feel alone.”
For Alexi Tsolirides, being an openly gay athlete had its challenges. There were times when he struggled to find acceptance on his different crew teams, to the point that he almost quit the sport for good. Now, he aims to promote a culture of inclusivity within McGill athletics.
Alexi has rowed for 6 years at clubs around the world, from his hometown in Boston, to Athens, Greece, and now finally at McGill. However, anytime he changed locations there was anxiety over how accepting the team culture would be. “Any time I joined a different club, I was always worried about what my teammates would think of me and if I would be accepted. Coming to McGill was no different.” Luckily for Alexi, he found the team completely welcoming of his identity. “I really felt like I found a home here.”
After competing for 6 years, including with the McGill Varsity crew team, Alexi was ready to take a break from the competition, but not from the rowing world. “I still wanted to contribute to the rowing community, even if I wasn’t competing. I thought about my experience as an athlete and how the authority figures at different clubs really impacted the environment for the athletes, for better or for worse. I thought that maybe I could help help make a positive change in the attitudes of the next generation of rowers.” This year, Alexi was one of several volunteers coaching the Novice crew team, bringing his ethos of acceptance to the McGill athletics program leadership.
Alexi’s desire to coach stemmed partially from his own experiences interacting with previous coaches. “There were times when I really wished I had a coach or mentor who could relate to what I was going through. I’ve been on teams where I felt comfortable with my identity, and teams where I really didn’t. I want to create a culture at McGill where everyone feels welcome.”
In recent years, a number of famous athletes have come out as gay, but the LGBT+ community still remains significantly underrepresented in the sporting world. “I think it’s really important to have more LGBT+ representation within sports leadership. People don’t realize how profound of an effect one coach can have on a team culture.”
If you are interested in rowing at McGill, be sure to check out the McGill rowing website.
Images obtained from interviewee.