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Transgender College Basketball Player Powers Through Criticism
Gabrielle Ludwig is 6'6", 220 pounds, and a Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm. She's also the newest player for Mission College's women's basketball team.
This news has garnered everything from inspiration, to hate-talk and awful flak.
So she gathered her 10 teammates at practice and offered to quit, and that she didn't want to be a distraction for the team. The other women said if she didn't play, they wouldn't either.
AMAZEBALLS!
The opposing teams have been awesome about it, too: Last weekend, during her first home game, she scored eight points in 11 minutes, and Facebook friend requests from the opposing team. Nobody was a jerk and heckled her from the crowd. She was accepted.
For those of you who are wondering, she is not the same player she was as a man. It's not like a dude is out there dominating the game. Here's what she says:
"Yeah, I hit with a little more punch down low, but that's because I weigh 220 pounds, but I am not the only 220 woman out there. It's different now. My body has changed, my strength has changed, my attitude has changed. The only thing I had to do is talk to my potential teammates and say, `Hey, do you have room for me? This is where I am, this is where I've been, and I really love this game. Can I play with y'all?' And it was a resounding, `Hell yeah!"'
At 51 years old, her motivation and drive are nothing short of amazing. Her strength is unparalleled to seek out a spot, and we love that she is one hell of a team player. She's a role model, through and through!
This fills our hearts!
Good luck, Gabrielle!
[Image via AP Images.]
Tags: amazing, awesome, basketball, body, change, facebook, game, heart, inspiration, men, model, strong, team, woman, women
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