In eight weeks, I head down to Sydney for a month of sun, sand and speedos. And maybe a little exploration, too.
With few exceptions, Americans and speedos are like oil and water. Or meat and milk. Or wine and emotions. They just don’t mix.
Australia, on the other hand, is another story entirely. The Aussies love their speedos like Americans love their guns and apple pie. Or so I’ve been told.
I ordered a few pairs online, and was determined to break them in pre-Sydney. Each Friday, I go for a swim at my gym – and I decided that today was going to be the first day of the rest of my life as a speedo survivor.
I had to laugh. In many of my blog pictures and youtube videos, I’m remarkably more exposed than in a speedo. (See here, here and here.) But there was just something terrifying about being nearly naked in public.
In the locker room, I slapped on the speedo and hit the shower before entering the pool. To my astonishment, the wet speedo revealed far more than I intended. Clingy? More like vacuum packed.
There I was, for all the world to see. Not much of anything to hide behind.
I intellectually understand nudity and nudism, but my heart just isn’t there yet. Guilt, shame and embarrassment aren’t words that should be associated with any body – but realizing this is still a work in progress for me. In our own way, we are all brilliant sculptures of creation. The last thing we should want is to cover it up.
So, I surrendered to my skimpy swimwear. I grabbed my goggles and headed for the pool. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. I held my head up high and stood up straight.
The sky didn’t fall and the windows didn’t shatter. No one even looked twice. And if they had, I would have been okay with that.
I felt empowered.
I wanted to be a speedo survivor, but in that moment I became a speedo triumphant.
November 12, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Greg Louganis said, ” Speedo has been kind and understanding to me over the years. Even when it was announced that I had AIDS I never lost an endorsement deal and have had one ever since.” Speedo makes lifeguard style trunks along with the trademark briefs. DON”T EVER PUT
THEIR BRIEFS IN THE DRYER< THEY WILL DISINTEGRATE!I Have a a dozen pair of their trunks many years old. I have but one pair of hot pink briefs which were worn once ( as a joke, Jake Gyllenhaal has same for posterity.) and are too big for me now. If Speedo made business attire I’d buy it, in large part of what the company has done for Greg.
November 13, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I thought you liked being naked! What’s wrong with being nude in public? A nudist is a nudist is a nudist (not G Stein). I like being naked!
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you are. Wherever you are is what you should be, and naked or not i snot one of those things that even nearly should make a difference.
November 13, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Aussies are traditionally HOT! Chatting them and being friends with some are a trip. They are clearly comfortable in every way. Gay or not, they are open and honest from the get go. I haven’t found an Aussie I didn’t like yet!
November 26, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Davey I think your SO sexual and wish to aquire a picture or 2 of you
February 1, 2010 at 1:03 pm
One of these Days Davey, YOU need to show us what u look like naked bczu I know alot of people that are in love woth you and want to see MORE of you.
March 1, 2011 at 7:27 am
Good job Davey! We support you!!! <3<3
September 16, 2011 at 7:41 am
You may be cute. But that dos’t meen we should see ya but naked, no matter how hot your sweet ass is.
January 31, 2012 at 7:43 am
I say, go for it. There needs to be more outlets for being naked. Plus if you showed up at my pool I would love to see you in that speedo. Go for it, Davey.