Chapter 6: Which Came First?: Reflections on the Complexities of Being an Athlete and a Lesbian

Some people might say that what we do in our lives influences who we become. Others might believe who we are influences what we do. The interconnected nature of these ideas creates an irony that is difficult to provide a clear answer for. As I began to frame what might become an essay for this collection, I tried to ask myself, how has my life as an athlete been interwoven with my life as a lesbian? Did my participation in sports influence my realization that I was a lesbian or was there an underlying consciousness that I was drawn to sport because I was a lesbian? Taking the time to examine this contradiction offers me the opportunity to disentangle the paradox and reflect on how my life as an athlete and a lesbian has come to shape the person I am today.