Sport Captain
Maggie Murphy
 Maggie began skating as an adult nine years ago and has quickly risen to the top of her sport. As a member of the “Ice Cadet’s” DuPage Figure Skating Club of USFSA, her team has competed in Synchronized Team Skating National Championships, ranking in the top ten for two years in a row. Maggie is most proud of her nearly seven years of instructing skaters who have gone on to love the sport as much as she does. Maggie is a past Director of women's softball local sports organizations WCAA and Chicago MSA. While still skating, Maggie currently plays for the Chicago Force, Chicago's women's professional football team in the Independent Women's Football League.
Honorary Chair
Rudy Galindo
Rudy Galindo, universally acknowledged as one of America's premiere figure skating champions, has overcome growing up in poverty, losing his father prematurely to heart conditions and his only brother and skating coaches to AIDS; the loss of his co-champion pair partner; and his own extremely serious health problems.
He was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 2000, but he overcame that through drug therapy, a daily strenuous exercise regimen, and a spirit that awed his doctors. Two years later, he was diagnosed with AVN, a degenerative bone condition that resulted in ceramic double-hip replacement; and once again, he bounced back--amazingly thrilling sold-out crowds with spectacular skating technique and artistry.
From 1986 through today, he has won the U.S. National Junior Pairs Championship, the World Junior Championship, twice the National Pairs Championship, the U.S. National Men's Championship, the World Men's Bronze Medal and the World Professional Championship. He is currently starring for the eleventh year in a row in the Champions on Ice national tour; and he gives his extra time to AIDS and Gay causes across the country.
Against all odds, he has not only survived-- but he has risen and remains at the top of his profession.
Sports Co-Captain
John Braun
John Braun, aka: “The Contessa Jacqueline de la Frommage – Cheese Heiress”, has been skating for the past nine years when he started at the age of 30...ish. A participant in Gay Games Amsterdam and Sydney, he looks forward to Gay Games Chicago and helping to make skating and the entire event a memorable experience. Besides skating, John (“Tessie” to his friends) is an avid Ashtanga yoga practitioner and teacher, as well as an ambassador to the dairy industry. He strives to bring peace, joy and love to the world through the use of milk and milk by-products.
|
