Jumping Ji, Flying High: Ji Wallace, Olympic & Human Rights Champion

The visibility of LGBT sports figures has been gaining momentum and seems to be of great importance at this moment in sports history as the world watches the drama surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

In the light of Russia’s anti-LGBT policies and public displays of violence, petitions and protests have been ongoing to get Olympic officials, world leaders and other organizations to demand the safety of LGBT athletes, during the games.

The latest petition from SumOfUs.org calls on the executives of Coca-Cola “to speak out against Russia’s brutal new anti-gay laws. So far, Coke has remained silent on Russia’s horrific LGBT crackdown — but if we can show Coke how many people want Coke to speak out against this law, we can set off an earthshaking domino effect that pushes other international sponsors to follow and causes Russia a multi-billion-dollar headache.” As of Dec. 19 the petition had nearly 400,000 signatures.

Clearly, openly LGBT athletes who use their visibility to champion for human rights teamed with the corporate sponsors of sporting events can create a great force in ending the LGBT discrimination and violence in places like Russia. The cause of LGBT rights is not new, but it is certainly still relevant. Olympic Silver Medalist, Ji Wallace became a champion for that cause, long before sports figures came out on social media.

Wallace made history during his debut appearance at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, while representing his native Australia. He received the Silver Medal in trampoline. It was the first Olympic Medal the country had ever received in Gymnastics.

Wallace became a public champion  LGBT people in sports, in 2005, when he came out publicly as gay. For using his visibility to help other LGBT athletes and people, he became the first Australian appointed as a Gay Games Ambassador.

Wallace flew through the air again as an acrobat in Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA in Macau, China. However, during an acrobatic maneuver in an October 2008 performance, he fell. After multiple surgeries to repair the damage and nearly two years of physical rehabilitation, he was successfully able to walk again. After his recovery, Wallace became a coach for Cirque Du Soleil at the head quarters in Montreal, in August 2010, but in 2012 he returned to Australia.

Wallace spent much of his life jumping in the air and falling back down to earth. But in 2012, the jumps were personal rather than acrobatic, and falls landed him, not on a mat or in a hospital, but into the new chapter of his life as a different kind of champion, again. He publicly revealed that he was HIV-positive, like fellow Olympian Greg Louganis. 

“When public figures come out as being HIV-positive, they put a face to the epidemic. They help to prove that people are still getting infected and the disease is still very much a part of our communities. But they also help the public understand that with early detection and the right care and treatment, the disease is not as scary as it once was,” said APLA’s Kristen Hellwig.

The alliances with HIV/AIDS organizations fell quickly into place, and almost immeadiately, Wallace became a champion and advocate for HIV/AIDS de-stigmatization, prevention and education. Being an athlete who has remained in impeccable shape with a chronic case of being photographed shirtless, didn’t hurt either.

“Ji Wallace became connected with Chris Richey of ‘The Stigma Project,’ after Ji announced that he was HIV-positive while the 2012 Summer Olympics in London were going on,” said Kerry Quakenbush, Director of Endurance Events at APLA. “Chris was doing some work for TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) at the time, and presented us the idea of bringing Ji to the States to participate in the LA Marathon with T2.”

Wallace also took a leap into love, in 2012, when met his partner on a beach. The couple ran the LA Marathon together to benefit APLA, on March 17, 2013. “I found Ji Wallace and his partner, Shaun Baldwin, to be extremely nice people who seem to be enthusiastic about being a productive voice for HIV/AIDS education, treatment and prevention,” Quakenbush said. “It was race weekend when they were here, so I didn’t have a lot of time to spend with them  unfortunately, but I liked them very much.”

In the following Q & A: Ji Wallace reveals his personal experience during the very public moments of his life; He describes how some things, like love, just fell into his lap; He explains why he has such a positive outlook on life, despite his struggles, and how he continues to be a champion, in all senses of the word.

Effie Magazine
Where in Australia do you live? Is that environment more or less conducive for you as a Gay man compared to the time you spent in China or Canada?
Ji Wallace
I live in Sydney right next to some of our most famous beaches. I love the sun, sand and surf and since I have been home I must say it is a daily ritual to go barefoot down there. The beach is certainly something I missed while living overseas. Plus with my positive [HIV] status it certainly makes my life more confident knowing I have the support of the medical system.

EM
Your trip to Los Angeles for the LA Marathon, was it your first. What were you expecting? And how did reality compare?
JW
I have made several trips to LA but this was my first marathon and to be invited to participate with the APLA’s T2 (TEAM TO END AIDS) made it a special trip.

EM
How was the L. A. Marathon for you? Did your background as an athlete give you any kind of  edge?
JW
Yes it did. My muscle memory kicked in during training and although I am 50 pounds heavier now then when I was competing trampoline my days of keeping my weight down by running came back like yesterday.

EM
What or how is it that you became involved in running the marathon for APLA?
JW
Since revealing my status I have had to pleasure of speaking with many organizations around the world. The Stigma Project out of LA really stood out for me as being edgy, progressive and on point so I wrote and congratulated them on their work. A friendship blossomed and they had links to APLA. Soon enough I was invited to run.

EM
Will you ever do it again or participate in other APLA related physical challenges like AIDS Lifecycle or Concrete Hero?
JW
I am so impressed by the APLA, if they were to ever invite me to join their lifecycle team I would jump at that chance.

EM
How did you become involved in competing on the trampoline? What has been your favorite jump to perform on the trampoline?
JW
I started trampoline in the backyard as most kids do. It was so much fun and it really went from there. One of my tricks on the trampoline that I was training was called a ‘full full half’ in the piked position. Unfortunately I never did get to compete that trick.

EM
What was it like winning the Silver Medal for your country at the Olympics being hosted in your country?
JW
Add to those facts that it was my sports debut at an Olympic games and I won Australia’s only Olympic medal ever in the Gymnastic arena, it was a very special moment indeed.

EM
How popular is gymnastics in Australia? Are you often recognized as THE Ji Wallace? What is it life like for a prominent gay sports figure?
JW
Gymnastics holds a special place in many a child’s heart and with the size of our population we hold our own on the international stage. I have never really thought of myself as recognizable but it does give my boyfriend the giggles when someone says they know who I am.

EM
You publicly “came out” as gay in 2005, and then in 2012 “came out” as HIV-positive. Had you made any kind of revelation to family or colleagues about either subject before the public announcements?
JW
In both these instances the only two people I have ever needed to tell face to face was my parents. I felt a responsibility to them and they deserved that respect. People were hardly surprised at my “gay” news and I have not had anyone pull their friendship from me in light of my HIV status.

EM
What prompted you to “come out” as gay and HIV-positive? And what was you experience? How was the news received?
JW
I revealed both pieces of personal information to the world because I have the support around me and I know that many people do not. And my speaking up is for them.

EM
How did you find out that you were HIV-positive? And what were you thinking or feeling at that time?
JW
I tested positive while living overseas. I had a simple rapid test and it responded. Knowing what I knew of HIV I knew I was going to be okay, but obviously it raises new challenges in your life. I decided to tackle those challenges head on.

EM
Are you fully recovered from the injuries you sustained while performing for Cirque Du Soleil, in China?
JW
After 4 surgeries and 21 months of rehab I have a fused ankle. Even a fused ankle was not going to stop me running the marathon.

EM
Some people worry that when young people, who didn’t experience AIDS in the 80’s, but see a healthy and attractive person like yourself or Magic Johnson living with HIV might then think that HIV is no big deal because they can just take some medication and be fine. What are your thoughts about that?
JW
While HIV is manageable your health is never worth compromising. HIV is not something you want, but if you do find yourself with a positive status educate yourself and carry on.

EM
As an outsider to the sports world, one might have the silly idea that most if not all LGBT sports celebrities would become friends or allies. Is there any truth to that?
JW
I have made some great friends with fellow LGBT sports personalities, but as we live in many different parts of the world we only get rare chances to catch up.

EM
Who or what inspires you?
JW
The human spirit inspires me. Triumph over tragedy gets me every time.

EM
We understand from our friends at APLA that you have a “very handsome partner.” How did you meet? How has that experience been for you? What drew you to him?
JW
When I arrived home from overseas my dad suggested to me not to jump into a relationship. He said, “look after yourself and reestablished yourself back here in Sydney.” I thought that was a great idea until I stumbled across Shaun [Baldwin] at the beach. The electricity was life changing. Shaun’s light is mesmerizing and his ability to see past HIV is awe inspiring. (This past April, Wallace and Baldwin got “man-gaged” and celebrated their first anniversary).

EM
Is Shaun as athletic as yourself?
JW
He is a 6ft 210lb giant. He used to run for New Zealand.

EM
How does he feel about your public prominence?
JW
Shaun has a history of his own mini stardom, so he understands it. He really does giggle every time someone recognizes me.

EM
How did you and Shaun celebrate your anniversary?
JW
Sydney has so many gorgeous attractions. Shaun surprised me with dinner atop Sydney’s tallest building. With a beautiful 360 degree view of downtown, the harbor, the Pacific Ocean and west to the mountains the burning sun setting while we drank our favorite cocktails made it a hard anniversary to top. 🙂

EM
How was the “man-gagement”? What did the festivities involve?
JW
Our “man-gagement” was a blast. We have a small circle of friend and family gather in a private room at a hotel with a view of the Opera house and harbour. The management told us they had never had men celebrate their love at their hotel and they loved our energy, our guests and our attitude.

EM
When is the ceremony? Or are you waiting for the legalization of same-sex marriage?
JW
We are not waiting for the government to tell us we can get ‘married’. This celebration of our love is for us to decide when we can do it. While the marriage equality push continues to gather strength here in Australia we do not have the fight for recognition that our brother’s and sister’s in other parts of the world have. We will be recognized as a de-facto couple with all the legal protections of an opposite sex de-facto couple, only without the use of the word “married.”

EM
Your former Prime Minister was in support of same-sex marriage. How are things looking for same-sex marriage in Australia, now?
JW
Our government has just changed and our new Prime Minister is not in favor of legalizing same-sex marriages however the push continues.

EM
What is in your future? Further involvement in the sports world? Advocacy perhaps?
JW
In the coming months we will be launching “Ji Wallace and the Silver Lining” project. It’s a foundation that I hope will inspire people to dream again. To chase the life they want again. The clouds of HIV have darkened so many lives and I am here to blow those clouds out to sea.

EM
How are things going with that project? What did it take to bring that passion to fruition?
JW
With the continued work I have been doing with a number of charitable organizations “Silver Lining” is a beast lying in wait. I have gained some great experience and knowledge helping other foundations and while the delay [in the project] is not ideal, it was necessary to have the formula right.

EM
Will the foundation be focused solely in Australia or will it have a more global cross over through partners, like APLA?
JW
From branding to fund-raising initiatives, a tight rope must be walked to stand out. Australia will be a core focus, but we will not be limited to home. We have ideas in a couple of key locations around the world. In the beginning I was keen to focus on just HIV/AIDS, but the more I have experienced the more I have realized there are many dark clouds circling and many people are in need of a “Silver Lining.”

EM
What do you hope your story will teach people?
JW
That HIV is something you live with, it is not something that defines who you are.