Stephany Lee married her long-time
girlfriend Brigg McDonald on Monday, less than 48 hours after making
the United States Olympic wrestling team in Iowa.
Lee, 27, traveled to Iowa from Colorado
to earn a spot in the Olympics.
Coincidentally, Iowa is one of just a
handful of states where gay and lesbian couples can legally marry.
So a wedding was hastily arranged in
less than 4 days, The
New York Times reported.
“It was an opportune time,” Lee
told the paper.
Lee wore jeans and a striped shirt,
McDonald a dress, as the couple exchanged vows in front of the Rev.
Jonathan Harnish at the Cedar Rapids chapel on First Avenue.
The wedding party included McDonald's
two children – Ethan, 12, and Savannah,10 – her Olympic teammate
Clarissa Chun and a family friend.
Lee said on closeted athletes competing
in the Olympics: “I think people are afraid what other people are
going to say.”
“But I don't care what other people
say,” she added. “I am who I am, and I'm not going to hide it.
I'm not going to dress like a girl to fit an image. No, I'm me. I'm
happy. That's all that matters.”