San Francisco Doctor and Olympian Tom Waddell Founded the Gay Games to Celebrate LGBTQ+ Athletes

Gay Games promotes acceptance of sexual diversity.

January 31, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on January 30, 2026

Tom Waddell, an American medical doctor and decathlete, founded the Gay Olympics, a gay sporting event modeled on the Olympics, in the early 1980s.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sued Gay Olympics and renamed it to Gay Games.

Tom Waddell was adopted by former vaudeville acrobats, Gene and Hazel Waddell, and they encouraged him to take up gymnastics.

He excelled in athletics in high school and attended Springfield College on a track scholarship.

During college days, he competed in gymnastics and football teams. He originally pursued a degree in physical education but switched to pre-medicine following the sudden death of his co-captain of the gymnastics team.

Afterward, Waddell attended medical school at New Jersey College of Medicine, a division of Seton Hall University, and took his medical internship at Beth El Hospital, Brooklyn, in 1965.

Sadly, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985 and passed away at the age of 49 on July 11, 1987.

Also, see: First Openly Gay NBA Player, Jason Collins, Who Is Battling With a Brain Tumor, Doesn’t Have Kids

The Olympian Tom Waddell Founded the Gay Games

Tom Waddell was an American decathlete who reached the pinnacle of his sport, competing in the 1968 Olympics.

He dreamed of a global sports festival where LGBTQ+ athletes could compete openly and with pride.

After retiring from competition, Waddell joined a gay bowling league in the early 1970s.

It inspired him to create an Olympic-style event for the gay community, and he followed through with the idea in the early 1980s.

His vision became reality, and the first “Gay Olympics” was to take place in San Francisco in 1982. However, just weeks before the first event, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sued to block the use of “Gay Olympics” in the name.

Afterward, Gay Olympics was renamed to the “Gay Games.”

The first Gay Games took place from August 28 to September 5, 1982, in San Francisco. They were open to all regardless of skill level or sexual orientation.

Today, the Gay Games continue as a worldwide event, welcoming thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes and allies from across the globe.

It stands as a lasting legacy to Dr. Tom Waddell.

People also viewed: Ralf Schumacher Comes Out As Gay And Opens Up About His Love Story With Partner Etienne

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Ashish Maharjan, author at Players Bio, has been covering news with a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling. A writer with a passion for capturing the essence of athletic competition.

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