Tom Waddell

Tom Waddell (November 1, 1937 – July 11, 1987) was an American physician, Olympic athlete, and founder of the Gay Games. He was a prominent figure in the LGBT community and made significant contributions to both sports and medicine.

Early Life

Tom Waddell was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He grew up in a working-class family and showed an early interest in athletics and medicine. He attended Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he excelled in gymnastics and track and field.

Medical Career

After graduating from Springfield College, Waddell attended the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry (now part of Rutgers University). He specialized in internal medicine and later completed a residency in pathology.

Athletic Career

Waddell was an accomplished decathlete and competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He finished sixth in the decathlon, a notable achievement given the political and social climate of the time.

Gay Games

In 1982, Waddell founded the Gay Games, originally called the "Gay Olympics." The event was created to promote the inclusion of LGBT athletes in competitive sports. The first Gay Games were held in San Francisco, and the event has since grown into a global phenomenon, held every four years in different cities around the world.

Personal Life

Waddell was openly gay and a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. He was diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s and became an activist for AIDS awareness and research.

Death and Legacy

Tom Waddell passed away on July 11, 1987, due to complications from AIDS. His legacy lives on through the continued success of the Gay Games and his contributions to both medicine and LGBT rights.

See Also

• Gay Games
• LGBT rights
• AIDS activism
• 1968 Summer Olympics