Photos by Terry Newell
Featured in our July/ August Swimsuit Issue of Compete Sports Diversity!
First and Last Name: Alex Roe.
Age: 26.
Hometown: Weston, Missouri.
Current Residence: Kansas City, Missouri.
Current Sports Played: Volleyball, softball.
Relationship Status: Single.
Favorite Athlete: Female, Serena Williams; Male, Travis Kelce.
Favorite Team: Kansas City Chiefs.
Interests/Hobbies: Working out, playing sports of any kind, hiking, movies, beer tasting, medical knowledge, spending time with family and friends.
Best Physical Feature: Legs and butt.
Why You Love Sports: The competition that the game offers along with the chance to make lifelong friendships.
How Did You First Get Involved in Sports: At a young age my parents noticed that all three of us boys were full of energy so as my mom says, “It was a way to help you get rid of the extra.” I started playing soccer at the age of six in a local league and went on to play many sports throughout high school and college.
Other Sports Played: Volleyball, softball, football, basketball, track and field.
What’s Your Day Job: Trauma ICU Nurse.
Greatest Personal Achievement: Becoming a Nurse, being able to help others with the education that I have received.
Greatest Athletic Achievements: All State Football for 2 years; Boys Junior Nationals Volleyball Qualifier; School/ State Record for longest field goal; Club Volleyball, The University of Missouri- Columbia.
What’s your personal story?
Growing up in a small farm town had its advantages and disadvantages to say the least. Everyone knows who you are. I remember feeling a little “different” from the boys around me in Weston. It was my sophomore year that I realized what made me feel this way. I played every sport the high school had to offer. I felt like I was supposed to be the quintessential jock with a girlfriend. When I left Weston for college to pursue a nursing education I found myself a little lost because this “small town, wave at everyone, know everyone” changed to the exact opposite. I truly was able to come to grips with the fact that I am a gay male during my freshman year of college. By then, some people had caught on and others were still in shock.
The team that I currently play on in Kansas City is called the Hitman. Our team has a family feel to it. We share so many laughs, tears, hugs, smiles and beers. They entered my life when I needed a group to belong to the most. I’m not one to often express feelings to those around me but they mean the world to me. They give me confidence to be myself, they joke about the things we cannot change and they love me for me. I can’t thank them enough for being my people.
What would you tell your younger self? And is there anything you hope to teach the younger generation that may be looking up to you?
I would tell myself to “Be yourself because there is only one you.” I would teach myself to be more patient and not be so hard on myself. I hope to teach the younger generation that it’s OK to be different, to not fit the mold of what others think you should be.
What are your future goals? To attend a Doctoral program in Nursing Anesthesia and hopefully find a man to build a family with.
What are your thoughts about the LGBTQ community’s inclusion in sports diversity? I think that it’s great to hear more and more cases where the LGBTQ community is involved in sports. Especially those at a higher level. When growing up I occasionally thought to myself that “I can’t do that, gay people don’t do that.” I think role models are so valuable to the youth in our community. They help us to realize that being gay isn’t a limitation and that you can do anything you set your mind to.
