Stacy Sykora
“I don’t remember much about, but after the accident everything has changed. At the beginning I was confident that I could be back physically and mentally very soon, but time was passing instead and I was not recovering: I became anxious and I was eager to recuperate and so I was even more worried and blocked.
Eventually, little by little, I found a way to calm down, to think about my life and eventually I changed my mentality: now, I want to live my life to the maximum every single day!
Once I was worried about silly things as eating or drinking before a training, or about being too tired to give it all on the court. Not anymore now. Volleyball has always been a constant in my life and thus I want to give my best during each training; but off the courts I cannot forget to live: I don’t want to waste my time because life has already showed me that everything can happen”.
The accident took place in 2011 and since that day Stacy has totally embraced this philosophy.
“I don’t hide anymore; I finished wearing a mask only because I am a strong player who took part to the Olympic Games. I have both good sides and weakness and as I do not hide myself on court, I don’t hide myself in love anymore either. I have a girlfriend and I’m happy with her now.
I am sorry if someone has a problem with it and doesn’t accept my homosexuality, but I’m happy and this is the most important thing.
Before the accident I had other girlfriends, but in the past I tended to hide it. This is the first time I say it openly. I have a girlfriend but that does not prevent me from being a good player or a good person”.
And living this new relationship so openly is part of the new life of Stacy.
“I have been living far from home since 1998: I was often alone and I would not call my parents at all. Now finally I have someone to share my life with and every evening I am eager to go back home to stay with her. Now that Shivonn is here with me, I also started calling my parents everyday. Simply, I am living my life at full so that if I died today, at least I would have been doing what I like and what makes me happy.
I always think that when I die I will be alone and so now I want to take advance from every single moment with the people I love”.
Stacy Sykora has been a fighter since that bus tragedy in Brazil last year. With all the life insights she has shared, we respect her even more. As for her coming out as a “gay” athlete, it’s never an easy task. Some might not even admire her anymore but at the same time we know deep in our hearts she’d gain even more followers.
“I am sorry if someone has a problem with it and doesn’t accept my homosexuality, but I’m happy and this is the most important thing.”
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