Posted on 04/29/2005 10:34:49 PM PDT by KneelBeforeZod
IT'S A GUY THING: "Do you have five minutes?" the Santa Clara Aquamaids coach asked Kenyon Smith.
"No," the 15-year-old kidded. He wanted to be with his teammates.
Only when ordered to talk to a reporter did the 5-foot-3 kid stop his race to warmups. He knew what the questions would be. As the only male competitor at the national championship, he's heard them before.
He's also heard the teasing. People tell him synchronized swimming is just for girls, and because he competes with girls, he's not a strong athlete.
"I tell them all to try it, then they stop bothering me," he said.
He first tried it seven years ago, following his sister, Layla, to practice. Since he joined the Aquamaids in 2003, his younger sisters, Summer, 8, and Ani, 6, have followed his lead.
Smith said he likes everything about the sport: the intense workouts, the team camaraderie, the intricate routines.
"He likes the girls, too," coach Chris Carver said.
A blushing Smith realized he was caught and flashed a smile.
"Of course," he said.
Yesterday, Smith and seven female teammates placed sixth in the team technical routine. If the Aquamaids' combined team score finishes in the top eight today, the group will advance to tomorrow's finals.
"He's my protégé," said Carver, who coached the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams.
Carver compares Smith to Bill May, a national solo, duet and team champion she coached at Santa Clara.
"Technically, Kenyon shows the same ability," she said. "Maybe he will even surpass that. They're both fast learners."
When the five minutes was up, Smith started to fidget, and with Carver's approval, walked toward the pack of girls waiting for him.
"He's smart," she said
Homo alert!
first thing I thought of when I read the headline.
Yeah, keep trying to convince yourself..."Guy"
WRONG... He's GAY!
Hmmm suspicous lack of pictures.
If he's wearing that waterproof hair gel and lipstick, well, we know how this story ends.
"Hey. Hey. I know you. I know you. No, no. You're not angry with him, just pointing."
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