Trans Man Just Barely Misses Chance at Olympics

Keelin Godsey may not have made it to the 2012 Olympics, but the 28-year-old has already made history as the first out transgender athlete to seriously compete for an Olympic berth. Yesterday Godsey competed in the Olympic trials in the women's hammer throw competition, finishing in fifth place but setting a personal best record of 231 feet 3 inches. 

Godsey, who came out as a transgender man in 2005, had previously, according to the The New York Times, assumed this Olympic cycle would be the end of his career and that after it he'd begin the medical transition process — a move that would disqualify him from competing in the women's category in the future. A 16-time All-America honoree at Bates College, the athlete said  he doesn't know how what this loss means for his future career, telling Times reporter Sam Borden, “I’ve always said in my head this was probably going to be it. But when it’s your life, it’s really hard to say goodbye to it. I’ve still done more than most people that are trans have. I’ve still competed at a level that most people haven’t. I don’t want to let not making a team be what brings that down. I’m trying to make a lot of decisions right now.”