r v l . c o m

In the lead up to Amsterdam Pride and the recent Euro Games, my swim team (GSA) was asked to feature in an article in the local mainstream paper, Het Parool.

Naturally we all pretended to be disinterested and aloof during the photo shoot, whilst frantically sucking in our stomachs, checking our teeth for remnants of our last meal and swimming with previously undiscovered style and grace.

The photographer was snapping away for most of the training session, taking photos of all aspects of our gruelling-yet-glamorous training regime. So hopes were high for a quality article, with sensitive and representative photographic imagery of what its like to be in such a swim team.

But what do we see in the article, which came out (so to speak) in yesterdays Parool? Serious athletes training for competition? Tasteful imagery of people from all walks of life striving to improve their fitness and achieve their goals? No… a tacky shower scene, not featuring me, and one of the hairiest eyeballs ever committed to print.

It’s actually a great photo, don’t you think? The ‘eyeballer’ claims he did not know he was in frame and was “apparently” just keeping an eye on “things”. Likely story! Although in his defence, when Robert is in the room, photographers (both amateur and professional) do tend to go a little weak in the knees.

Ok, I’m just jealous.

Of course as subtle as this photograph is, everyone knows what was really going on in those showers… late after the training session had ended and everyone else was busily getting dressed. And now thanks to wonders of Photoshop, I am able to re-create the scene - in all its debaucherous glory:

Ah hah… I knew it!

[Update] I thought I recognised Romke’s pose from somewhere. It’s been driving me crazy all day actually, mentally running through my database of Diva poses over and over. Finally, I think found it!

You’ll have to look closely to spot the difference!