First by land, next by sea … welcome to the Gay Games world of Matthew Stuczynski, who lives in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.
Stuczynski competed in cycling at the 2006 Games in Chicago. Next July in Cologne, Germany, Stuczynski will be back in competitor mode—in sailing, though.
"My [ Cologne ] goal is to sail as best I can and work as part of an amazing sailing team," said Stuczynski, 46, a Spanish and German high school teacher.
"Having shied away from sports as a young person because I was gay, the Games give me the opportunity to relive those earlier bad experiences and to re-do and recreate those negative times in a very positive and healthy way."
Stuczynski graduated from Ryan High School in Omaha in 1981, and then the University of Nebraska. He received additional degrees from the University of Illinois-Chicago and Dominican University.
He earned his Sail Chicago skipper card in 2009 after passing a series of sailing and sailing-knowledge tests.
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More about Matthew Stuczynski:
—Birthday: May 15, 1963
—Status: Dating Harold Di Vito
—Reflections on the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago: "I got to participate with friends and strangers in such an affirming, positive and healthy endeavor … the whole experience was life-changing."
—Hobbies: Sailing, biking, hiking, reading, travel and gardening
—Superstitions: "I do not like to kill [ insects ] , especially spiders. I learned from a favorite aunt that killing spiders was bad luck."
—Little-known fact: "I am a closeted technogeek."
—Favorite sports team: Chicago Blackhawks
—Favorite pro athlete: Billie Jean King
