Keelin Godsey (born Kelly Godsey, January 2, 1984, in Massachusetts) was the first openly transgender athlete to compete for a spot on the United States Olympic team.[1][2][3] Godsey was assigned female at birth, has openly identified as male since 2005, and competed in women's hammer throw competitions.

Early life and education

Godsey graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in English from Bates College.[4]

Women's hammer throw

Collegiate competition

Godsey won two national collegiate championships in the women's hammer throw.[4] He set the NCAA Division III record in the hammer throw twice (in 2005 and 2006),[5] a record which he still held as of May 2015.[4] He earned All-America status in four different throwing disciplines: shot put, weight throw, discus throw, and hammer throw.[4] He was named USTFCCCA New England Region track and field athlete of the year twice,[4] and was named to the NCAA Silver Anniversary Division III track and field championship team.[4]

U.S. Olympic trials and international competition

At the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials for the 2008 summer Olympics, Godsey finished in eighth place in the hammer throw.[4]

In 2011, Godsey finished third at the USATF national championships, earning a spot on the U.S. team at the 2011 Pan Am Games, where he finished fifth in the hammer throw.[4]

At the U.S. Olympic trials for the London 2012 summer Olympics, Godsey placed fifth in the women's hammer throw competition at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, with a mark of 70.48 metres (231 ft 3 in), missing a spot on the three-member U.S. team by 0.29 metres (11 in).[6][7][8]

Hammer throw season bests

Year Performance Place Date
2012 70.48 Beaverton, Oregon 21 June
2011 68.90 Eugene, Oregon 25 June
2010 64.20 Cambridge, Massachusetts 21 May
2009 66.99 Tucson, Arizona 23 May
2008 66.22 Eugene, Oregon 3 July
2007 64.64 Cambridge, Massachusetts 13 July
2006 62.92 Lisle, Illinois 26 May
2005 62.82 Jersey City, New Jersey 20 May
2004 60.41 Springfield, Massachusetts 1 May

Source:[9]

References

  1. "NCAA members slow to adopt transgender athlete guidelines". USA Today. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  2. "Transgender Athlete Competes For Olympic Spot". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  3. TORRE, PABLO S. "THE TRANSGENDER ATHLETE". Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Keelin Godsey '06 | Alumni Inductee | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  5. "Godsey breaks own NCAA Division III record in hammer throw". 26 May 2006.
  6. http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2012/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials-TF/Results.aspx
  7. Zeigler, Cyd (2012-06-21). "Trans hammer thrower Keelin Godsey narrowly misses U.S. Olympic team". Outsports. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  8. Borden, Sam (21 June 2012). "Transgender Athlete Fails to Qualify". Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  9. "IAAF: Keelin Godsey | Profile". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
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