Gay swimmers do it with Different Strokes

Meet Martin Kaulback of Different Strokes — the LGBT aquatics club from Wellington, New Zealand.

How did Different Strokes start?

Different Strokes was established in 2008 by three swimmers — Hamish Allardice, David Huxford, and myself.

Is Different Strokes just a swimming club or does it include other activities?

Different Strokes is primarily a swimming club, with social activities in the calendar throughout the year — such as meals out, 10-pin bowling, and barbecues.

Our members engage in pool swimming as well as open water swimming in Wellington Harbour in the summer months.

How many members does Different Strokes have?

28 members, of which about 14 swim regularly.

Is membership of Different Strokes growing?

Yes, slowly and with the help of funding received through AsiaPacific Outgames.

Our club organised and hosted the swimming event for the Second AsiaPacific Outgames that were held in Wellington in 2011. As the games were financially successful, we were granted money through the AsiaPacific Outgames Legacy Fund. We’ve been using this money to enhance the experience of belonging to the club for existing members, to grow the membership base of the club, and to make swimming more accessible to a wider group of people within the LGBT community.

What is the gender balance like in the club?

We have 85% male and 15% female members.

Do members of Different Strokes take part in competitive events?

Yes, both pool and open water events.

The events that members participate in are both local and international and they are also of two types — sanctioned or non-sanctioned, fun meets.

We train for competitive swimming twice a week with the support of professional coaching.

What about those members who aren’t interested in competitive swimming?

We have a designated training session each Sunday evening that is designed for social swimmers — this is intended as a time to build community and to allow club members to socialise. It’s also an opportunity for people to try out swimming with an eye to joining the club.

What are some of the challenges of running a club like Different Strokes?

Developing a growing membership — Wellington is a small city with a small LGBT population. We have to overcome negative associations with sport in many LGBT people — perhaps due to adolescent experiences.

And we also have the challenge of being able to book pool space for coaching sessions — the pools in Wellington are of a good standard but there are only four, of which one is outdoor and only used recreationally.