• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
  • Health
  • News
    • News
    • Announcements
    • Obituaries
    • The Official Dish
  • Opinions
  • Horoscopes
  • PODCAST
  • Subscribe

Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

  • Read All Articles
  • Print Archive
  • Old Archived Site
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Introducing Geo: An Interview

August 2, 2020 By Jim Meadows

Ambush’s newest writer is George Melichar, an internationally recognized athlete and USA Track & Field (USATF) Masters National Champion. Geo uses they/them/she/her pronouns. They are known as George Melichar by the international athletic community, but their chosen name is Geo and their nickname is GiGi.

JM: Welcome to Ambush, Geo! You’ve been writing about your sports journey, especially your track and field- and marathon-related pursuits, for years now. How did you get started?

George Melichar USATF Level 1 Coach
George Melichar USATF Level 1 Coach (Photo Provided by George Melichar)

GM: At first, I started walking in parks. As I began exploring New Orleans, I started to learn about running. After participating in the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland, I flew to Europe later that year, and trained with fellow Marseille United Sport pour Tous members in Provence, France. I was taught the fundamentals to select throwing and running events that I then continued to practice.

JM: You’re very active with USA Track & Field (USATF), and you recently became a USATF Level 1 Coach. For those who don’t know, can you talk a little bit about USATF and your work with that organization?

Advertisement

GM: USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking. I am an active athlete at the Masters level. Additionally, I serve as the LGBT Issues Subcommittee Chair that is part of the USATF Diversity and Leadership Development Committee.

JM: What do you hope to accomplish as a coach?

Advertisement

GM: My intent is to identify the skills and capabilities that are within all people I train, and enable them to use their capabilities to the best of their ability.

JM: What does your own training schedule look like?

GM: I have a robust athletic, philanthropic, professional, and life schedule that I try to balance to support working towards achieving performance goals, improving my skill level, and/or outcome goals.

Advertisement

JM: One thing I’ve always admired about you is the way you use your high profile in the athletic world to bring attention to various causes. Would you talk about some of those causes, and why they’re important to you?

GM: Thank you for your kind words. I’m simply Geo doing Geo things. This year, I volunteered with CrescentCity.com to provide free meal assistance to the LGBTQ+ community, gig workers, the hospitality industry, and all New Orleanians that face food insecurities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The call to serve those in need has always been a cornerstone to who I am, even as an Eagle Scout in my youth.

JM: Trans athletes, especially young people, have been targeted across the country this year by lawmakers who’ve proposed anti-LGBT bills. What can people do to fight back, and how can we best help trans youth?

Advertisement

GM: Transgender and non-binary people are our teammates, community members, and our friends. Allyship begins with everyone, and is an ongoing process. A starting point could be to not tolerate disrespect, be patient with those questioning their gender identity, respect pronouns, and please listen to trans voices.

JM: Which athletes have inspired you the most in your life?

GM: I don’t have a particular athlete that has inspired me because I’ve never identified with or recalled seeing another nonbinary trans-femme athlete like myself in media. I am, however, inspired by the friendships I’ve made with fellow USATF teammates, the international athletic community, and athletes locally in New Orleans.

Advertisement

JM: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me, Geo. And for folks who want to learn more about you, they can visit georgemelichar.com, or follow you on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@georgemelichar).

Filed Under: Featured, Profiles & Spotlights

Related Posts

Tracy “TJ” Boyd, Jr
New Orleans EMS Appoints LGBTQ Liaison
Roy Haylock in Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Everybody’s Talking About Bianca
2019 Nominees for Advocate for Transgender Rights
Introducing the 2019 Nominees for the New “Advocate for Transgender Rights” Gay Appreciation Award

Primary Sidebar

Connect & Join the Conversation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent Print Editions

  • Volume 38 Issue 17
  • Volume 38 Issue 16
  • Volume 38 Issue 15
  • Volume 38 Issue 14
  • Volume 38 Issue 13
  • Volume 38 Issue 12
  • Volume 38 Issue 11
  • Volume 38 Issue 10
  • Volume 38 Issue 05
  • Volume 38 Issue 04

Recent Articles

  • Alfred & Stewart: A Love Story that Made History
  • Trodding the Boards January 24, 2023
  • Under the Gaydar (February Event Calendar)
  • The 71st Miss Universe Pageant
  • Trodding the Boards January 10, 2023

Experience Gay New Orleans

  • Gay New Orleans
  • Gay Mardi Gras
  • Gay Easter Parade
  • New Orleans Pride
  • Gay Appreciation Awards
  • Southern Decadence
  • Gay Halloween

Categories

  • A Community within Communities
  • Announcements
  • Arts & Culture
  • Bartender of the Month
  • Book Review
  • Business
  • Chop Chop
  • Commentary
  • Drag Queen Profile
  • Featured
  • Film Review
  • Financial
  • Geo Doing Geo Things
  • Health
  • Horoscopes
  • Interviews from Key West
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Moments in Queer New Orleans History
  • Museum Spotlights
  • Music
  • Musings by Catherine
  • New to New Orleans
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinions
  • Pride Spotlight
  • Profiles & Spotlights
  • Sports
  • The Here and the Now
  • The Official Dish
  • The Real Cheese
  • The Rockford Files
  • Trodding the Boards
  • Uncategorized
  • Under The Gaydar

Footer

Ambush Magazine Logo

Ambush Magazine is New Orleans' and the Gulf Coast's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer entertainment, news, and travel guide since 1982.

Publisher TJ Acosta
Editor-In-Chief Reed Wendorf
Founding Publisher/Editor Rip Naquin-Delain
Senior Editor Brian Sands
Distribution George Bevan Jr

Email info@ambushpublishing.com
Phone (504) 522-8049

Recent Posts

  • Alfred & Stewart: A Love Story that Made History
  • Trodding the Boards January 24, 2023
  • Under the Gaydar (February Event Calendar)
  • The 71st Miss Universe Pageant
  • Trodding the Boards January 10, 2023

Proud Member

Gulf South LGBT Chamber Logo

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Ambush Publishing LLC All Rights Reserved · Website Built by Reed Wendorf · Log in