By Marisa Taylor
Jun 20, 2012 5:57pm
Hammer Thrower Could Become First Transgender US Olympic Athlete
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/hammer-thrower-could-become-first-transgender-u-s-olympic-athlete/Keelin Godsey, who is poised to compete in the women's hammer throw at the United States Olympic trials Thursday, could become the first-ever transgender athlete to represent the United States at the Olympic Games, according to The New York Times.
Godsey, 28, was born female and had an extraordinary athletic career as a member of the track and field team at Bates College. Godsey racked up 16 all-American awards there, according to The Times, and placed first in the women's hammer throw at the NCAA Division III championships in 2005.
But that was back when Keelin still went by the first name Kelly.
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June 20, 2012, 1:29 pm15 Comments
Transgender Athlete Looks to Qualify in Hammer
By SAM BORDEN
http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/transgender-athlete-looks-to-qualify-in-hammer-throw/Keelin Godsey is one of 24 athletes scheduled to participate Thursday in the women's hammer throw at the United States Olympic trials, but for Godsey, 28, of North Adams, Mass., there is much more than a spot in London at stake.
Godsey was born female but identifies as male, and is seeking to become the first openly transgender athlete to make a United States Olympic team. Godsey was known as Kelly until his senior year of college, at which point he began the difficult process of changing his gender identity while simultaneously continuing a successful athletic career. He earned 16 all-American awards as a member of the Bates College track and field team.
