Drag Race queen wins silver medal in World Aquatics Masters Championship
Canada’s Drag Race alumni, Gia Metric, came second in the World Masters competition. (Instagram)
Canada's Drag Race alumni, Gia Metric, came second in the World Masters competition. (Instagram)
Just when we thought drag artists couldn’t get more iconic, a Drag Race queen just won a silver medal in a World Masters swimming competition.
Canada’s Drag Race alumni and veritable icon, Gia Metric, took off her heels and dove headfirst into the World Aquatics Masters Championship.
The performer, who reached the top-four spot in season two of the Canadian Drag Race spin-off and whose out-of-drag name is Giorgio Triberio, earned the runner-up medal in the artistic swimming tournament in Singapore earlier this week.
He reportedly performed to an original song that he wrote and recorded himself while in the synchro pool, saying that it brought an “extra level” to his routine.
Having only started training in the performance sport last year, the 33-year-old said earning the accolade was an “incredible feeling.”
After winning the gold in his first competition on his home turf in April, Triberio qualified for the World Masters men’s solo free tournament in Singapore, running a GoFundMe to cover travel costs.
Speaking to Outsports following the win, he recalled feeling nervous that the competition could be a “one and done” for him, but that he kept his resolve.
“I didn’t know how I’d feel afterwards, but it’s been awesome,” he said. “On the day of the competition, I started to get emotional because I was so proud of myself for doing something that makes me feel so alive.”
Upon seeing that he had won the silver medal, the star said his first thought was “Holy f**k,” followed by: “I’m going to have to keep swimming! I must be good at this!”
The gender fluid star, who uses he/him pronouns out of drag, said the competition allowed him to “feel more confident in my masculinity” whilst still being his naturally “flamboyant” self.
Asked if he knew any other drag performers who are in high-level sporting competitions, he said there were “none that I can remember.”
“It’s like if you want to learn a language,” Triberio continued. “If you want to learn a sport, there are no boundaries on when and how you can do that.”
