History:

Different Strokes Swim Team was formed in the Spring 1985 to prepare San Diego swimmers for the first Gay Games in San Francisco, California. DSST has grown steadily over the years and now has over 100 men and women on its roster—and hundreds more who swam with us through the years.

In 1986, DSST sent 34 swimmers to the Gay Games in San Francisco. On the last day of the meet, DSST was asked to host the first IGLA (then known as the West Coast Gay Swim League).  DSST proudly hosted IGLA 1 and 2 in 1987 and 1988.

In 1990, we sent 48 swimmers to Gay Games III in Vancouver and in 1994 we sent 58 swimmers and 1 diver to Gay Games IV in New York City.

In 1997, DSST sponsored the 10th Anniversary of the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) championship. We were also proudly represented at the Gay Games in 1998 in Amsterdam, Netherlands and in 2002 in Sydney, Australia.

Each year DSST participates in the San Diego Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade and always puts on a show-stopping, award-winning performance.

We also host the Bart Hopple Memorial Swim, an annual Swim-a-Thon to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS. The team has donated thousands of dollars over the past 15 years to San Diego area AIDS service organizations.