I Won The Gold!

By Keith Boykin, in sports
Tuesday, July 18 2006, 10:46AM

With the medal after the day was overChicago, IL -- I competed in the Gay Games wrestling competition on Sunday and Monday and emerged with a gold medal. Nobody was more surprised than I was about the win. Thanks to the heatwave, it was 105 degres outside and it was even hotter in the un-air conditioned arena with more than 100 athletes running around and grappling. I lost my first match by one point at the very beginning of the day, so I assumed I was out of the competition for good and I was ready to go home and get some air. Then I discovered I had to compete again.

It took all my energy to compete in the second match, but I won. Then I found out I had to compete in round 3. This was actually the easiest match of the day for me, but I was still thoroughly exhausted and had no energy to compete. I won that match as well. At that point, I assumed the day was over and I didn't expect I would have much of a chance to win a medal.

The officials asked the athletes to help roll up one of the mats and everything started winding down. That's when they made the announcement that there would be a round 4 in some weight brackets. My weight bracket was one of, if not the most popular brackets in the tournament. Although I could have dropped down to the Open Division (34 and under) where there were only 2 competitors who made it, I stayed in the Masters Division (35-49) which was the most competitive group in the event.

Of course, my weight bracket had a round 4, and much to my surprise (and chagrin, given my exhaustion), I had to wrestle a fourth time in the exhausting heat. Only a handful of wrestlers had to wrestle 4 times on Monday and I was one of them. After I wrestled my opponent, on the mat next to us was another match. I assumed it was the championship match in my weight class for Gold and Silver. I assumed my match was the consolation prize match for Bronze.

I went out and gave it my all in my fourth match but I had no strength to do anything. I nearly passed out once before in the first match and I didn't want to do that again. After five or six consecutive takedowns, I won the first period of the final match. I tried the same strategy in the second period, and again I got a couple of takedowns right away. With 40 seconds left in the match, I knew all I had to do was not get taken down and I would win the round, finish the match and win a Bronze medal. So with all my determination, I held on. And won!

Before the medal ceremony, I had asked a friend to snap a photo of me when they announce the Bronze medal winner and he agreed to do it. But when they called my weight class, they announced my name first. "In 82 kilos, the gold medal goes to Keith Boykin." No way, I thought to myself. There must be a mistake. Several photographers later told me I had a look of shock on my face. I figured it was a mistake and I was waiting for the real gold and silver medalists to complain. Then they announced my opponent in the final match was the silver medalist. That's when it dawned on me that my final match was actually the Gold Medal match and I just didn't realize it.

I had won the gold. Exactly three months after I launched my fitness campaign, it had come to an end. The goal was achieved. After a week in which I joined a group of black LGBT activists to stop a homophobic concert, gave the most exciting speech of my life in front of 40,000 people at Soldier Field and won a Gold Medal at the Gay Games, I was feeling very inspired. It reminded me of the words of Audre Lorde that I often quote.

"When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision -- then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."

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Comments (53) reveal

Comments conceal

Basil Hennely
July 18 2006, 11:03AM

Congratulations, Keith on grabbing the GOLD. I love the fact that Life can even shock the best of us!!! Enjoy it.

Nick
July 18 2006, 11:04AM

Congrats, definitely another inspirational moment for all of us.

Patrick
July 18 2006, 11:09AM

WAY TO GO KEITH!!!!!

PC
July 18 2006, 11:31AM

CONGRATS!!

Greasy Guide
July 18 2006, 11:50AM

Wow thats AWSOME MAN!!!!! Congrats!

Shaun B.
July 18 2006, 12:21PM

Congratulations Keith!! I'm glad to see that your hard work paid off.

Derrick from Philly
July 18 2006, 12:34PM

Congratulations, Keith, and your chest is fierce! I coulda' had a pair like that...if I worked on 'em.

Cadence
July 18 2006, 12:38PM

Congratulations Keith. You deserve to be really proud of all of your accomplishments.

Jeff Funk
July 18 2006, 12:56PM

Congrats Keith! What an amazing month you've had! And I LOVE that Audre Lorde quote. (In fact, I used it in a blog entry awhile back.) Your blog is so inspiring.

anthony davis
July 18 2006, 12:59PM

Congrats Keith and way to go, you are truly an inspiration. You really look great and your chest is absolutely awesome.

Joaquin
July 18 2006, 1:32PM

What a wonderful and completely unimaginable ending to what I thought was going to be a disaster....But, like your quote from Audre Lorde,...you dared...and your strength showed up!!!! Wow!!!!

This inspires me for my tennis tournament in Daytona on Labor Day weekend. Thanks for the experience and journal. I love it when the most important part of life shows out--- l "if" e...the possiblilities seems endless...

DFore
July 18 2006, 2:27PM

Congrats, now I hope we get to see u in that hot slinglet...full body shots! :)

chris-leo
July 18 2006, 2:35PM

i've said it before. you've got some TIG OLE' BITTIES.

Kareem
July 18 2006, 2:57PM

Great Job! After I saw that you lost the first matche, i too thought that you would be out of the competition, so I headed out. Only if I would have known, I would have stayed to watch you win the Gold. Ofcourse, I would have also missed my ride out of Chicago, but you win some and you lose some.

Ken W.
July 18 2006, 3:12PM

Congratulations Keith!! That is truly awesome. Have fun.

DT
July 18 2006, 3:27PM

You better go....congratulations!You are quite the inspiration. Beautiful Chest.

DT

Darian
July 18 2006, 3:30PM

Congratulations Keith! I'm proud of you and envious of your fierce body !!

Mel Smith
July 18 2006, 4:04PM

Great Job, Keith!

nellyneld
July 18 2006, 4:06PM

How much for the singlet? Just kidding. Good job Keith!!!

castiron
July 18 2006, 4:16PM

Congratulations...a true renaissance man.

rpcjr
July 18 2006, 4:29PM

Hooray for Gold!! Make sure you wear on My Two Cents sometime!

Patrik-Ian Polk
July 18 2006, 5:09PM

Congrats, Keith!!! Very inspiring. Now maybe I can get my fat ass in the gym! You go, boy!

Love, Patrik-Ian Polk

Liquid Fonts
July 18 2006, 5:26PM


All I could say when I saw this was "Yessss!!" like I had personally won something..lol

Elijah Jek[TypeKey Profile Page]
July 18 2006, 5:50PM

Congratulations… I’m glad you won the GOLD. You are more cut than I thought. You look GREAT.

Jeff Smith
July 18 2006, 5:58PM

Super congrats on your achievements. Now can I borrow some of your spirit. I want to do another marathon but I am not motivated to workout, run, eat properly,etc. You are truly an inspiration.

Tom
July 18 2006, 6:00PM

Congrats! I heard your fantastic speech on Saturday night. It was very powerful and a high point of the evening. It's great that you can add this success to a great (albeit sweltering) week in Chicago!

Charles Harvey
July 18 2006, 7:13PM

Congratulations Keith!
We expect to see you in a photo spread somewhere soon. (Smile)
Athleticism in its finest.

alicia banks
July 18 2006, 8:26PM

i knew u would!

u have that midas touch in all u do

congrats!!!

peace
ab

cmoney
July 18 2006, 8:44PM

You better work! You are a real fighter in every sense of the word! Now you can relax a little. Let your stomach hangout, have a Big Mac, some supersize fries..and a Diet Coke!

EMPRESS
July 18 2006, 9:30PM

WELL U GO BOY! U GAVE THEM SOMETHING TO REMEMBER YOU BY!
NOW TELL THEM "BETCHA CAN'T DO IT LIKE ME!"

Shabaka
July 18 2006, 10:27PM

Congrats,Keith!!

Derrick_the other one
July 18 2006, 10:35PM

Congratulations Keith!!!!!! Very happy for you. :)

Kenneth Winfrey[TypeKey Profile Page]
July 18 2006, 10:46PM

Nothing as good as an award-winning athlete with a brain! :-) Hear hear!

Steve
July 18 2006, 11:36PM

Hey Keith. Great job mate and yes, what an inspiring week.....see you in 2010!
All the best
Steve

Brian Sang
July 19 2006, 12:16AM

I am so proud of you ...way to go, you are now unstoppable!

andre allen
July 19 2006, 12:19AM

congrats keith for winning the gold

theeunuch3
July 19 2006, 12:21AM

Congratulations Keith. You look really good, too.

PSMike
July 19 2006, 1:17AM

Jeez..I can't read this site anymore. I already found you a remarkable person, and had a bit of the hots...lol..but that picture....JEEZ!! Seriously...congratulations on a great job.
Note to Self..he's humble too..damn..remember, you're too old, and he has a partner ;-)

Marlon
July 19 2006, 1:26AM

Congrats on the Gold! And congrats on the speech; I so needed those words of rejuvenation. Enjoy the success!

Michael-Vincent
July 19 2006, 2:29AM

Well done, Keith, Congratulations! I'm so proud of you: your veracity, your tenacity & your sagacity. I KNEW your
grappling would garner Gay Games GOLD. You realized your
own goal, guided perhaps as in these thoughts:

If you think you are beaten, you are; if you think you
dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win, but think you
can't, It's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll
lose, your lost, For out in the world we find Success begins with a person's will; it's all in the state of mind. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster person; But soon or late the person who wins is the one who thinks one can. [anonymous]

I don't know about Bloomberg giving you a ticker-tape but
tell me when, as I'd like to be marchin'in that NY number,
celebrating your sweet victory on your return home! Bravo!


Darrell Diggins
July 19 2006, 2:33AM

Bravo! A job (and story) well done. Attaboy! (I think I've just been inspired to get back to the court to practice my serve and my spike!)

edwin greene
July 19 2006, 4:34AM

Congratulations, Keith!

j. brotherlove
July 19 2006, 4:43AM

I got the heads up that you had one and was waiting for you to post about it. Congratulations, Keith!

Butch Cordora
July 19 2006, 7:19AM

Hey Keith, WOW that's awesome.. I had no idea you were an athelete too! Good job.. Hope to see you in Philly soon!

Steven EB
July 19 2006, 9:11AM

Congratulations! Salute! This journey is so very inspiring. Thanks for sharing it with us all. Continue being the best you can possibly be and showing the world what truth, compassion, and hard work can bring forth.
Love & Respect, SEB

Jeff
July 19 2006, 9:52AM

Keith, congrats to you. You are truly a rennaisance man. Writer, Speaker, Activist, Talk Show Commentator, and Athlete. Your resume is getting bigger all the time. You are a warrior in the truest sense and I'm glad to know you. God Bless you Keith. Keep it going.

Mason
July 19 2006, 11:45AM

Congratulations!!!! I wanted to be there to see you compete but was not able to make it to Chicago, you are truly one of my heroes! Peace Blessings and thanks for being such an inspiration!

Psun
July 19 2006, 11:57AM

*Big Momma Clap*
HERCULEEEEEZ! HERCULEEEEZ!
lol

Congrats Keith

ti
July 19 2006, 12:02PM

CONGRATULATION FROM LONDON KEITH!!!!! JOB WELL DONE!

David E. Patton
July 19 2006, 3:28PM

Congratulation on your gold medal. I saw a picture of you and you look fit to beat the hell out of anyone.

Steve
July 20 2006, 10:35AM

Gold looks good on you. Congratulations!

Jacques
July 20 2006, 6:31PM

CONGRATULATIONS, Keith! You never cease to amaze me.

Cederico
July 21 2006, 10:34AM

Major congrats Keith.