Area woman grabs first gold

Kayla Harrison took her spot atop the medal stand, determined not to cry during the national anthem.

She was in tears after one note.

On this day, emotion was the only thing she could not beat.

America and Ohio finally have an Olympic judo champion — a 22-year-old from Middletown who was sexually abused by a former coach as a child, became a self-described “teenage punk” who hated everything about her sport and then found a way to turn everything around.

Harrison took the final step in the journey Thursday. She beat Britain’s Gemma Gibbons 2-0 for the gold medal in the women’s under 78-kilogram division.

“Kind of just reflecting back on my life. Everything it’s taken to get here, and everything that I’ve gone through,” Harrison said. “I’m America’s first gold medalist in judo — and always will be.”

Several members of Harrison’s family accompanied her to London to see her reach the pinnacle of her sport.

“My heart is still pounding and my knees are still shaking,” Harrison’s father Kenny Harrison said after watching his daughter in the final match.

“It was one of the best moments in the world,” he said. “God blessed her and she took advantage of it. She set this goal and she accomplished it. The whole family couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Harrison has endured much more than just a competitive field in her judo career. She was sexually abused beginning at age 12 by her former instructor Daniel Doyle. After Harrison came forward about the abuse her mother sent her to live and train in Massachusetts when she was 16. In New England, Harrison worked under the tutelage of Jimmy Pedro, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in judo.

Harrison faced Doyle in a U.S. District Courtroom in Dayton at age 17 when Doyle sentenced to 10 years in prison and expelled for life from USA Judo, the sport’s national governing body.

“When I saw the American flag on her shoulders, it was absolutely a terrific moment,” said stepmother Carolyn Harrison. “This was a goal Kayla set years ago and it is great to see her dreams come true.”

Harrison had family supporting her in London as well as others back in Ohio.

“I am a proud grandma,” said Ginger Sneed, mother of Harrison’s stepfather Mike Yazell. “She is so awesome and has worked so hard. This has been her goal from a young age and I am so happy for her.”

“This was her soul purpose and she never once faltered from that dream,” Sneed said. “I’ve been in knots for days, but I’m so relieved now and just so happy for her.”

There were plenty of other hometown supporters watching too.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Middletown Middle School Athletic Director Darlene Wolf and a close friend of the family. “It’s unbelievable. She has been fighting so hard to get here. Good for her.”

Wolf got up at 5 a.m. to watch all four of Harrison’s matches on her computer.

“I’ve only had two or three athletes in my 32 years that were so dedicated,” Wolf said. “She knew if she wanted to get better she had to work at it. She would do whatever it took and now she is the top of the top. I am so happy for her.”

Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan watched on his computer too.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Mulligan said. “This is quite an accomplishment. She has shown us all what can happen with hard work and dedication. We should all be very proud.”

Even Speaker of the House John Boehner watched the match from a TV in his office.

Harrison is the second Middletown-native to win an Olympic gold medal, behind Jerry Lucas’ win as part of the U.S. basketball team in the 1960 games in Rome.

“We’ve had a lot of great athletes come out of Middletown, but what a great role model (Kayla) is for all our athletes especially young ladies,” said Middletown High School Athletic Director Gary Lebo. “I’m extremely excited for Kayla and her family. What a wonderful accomplishment.”

It may be the final Olympic match for Harrison.

Pedro and his pupil had an agreement before London: If Harrison, who is engaged to a firefighter and is working to become one herself, had not won the gold medal, she would compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Except she did win. So retirement is now an option. Pedro will undoubtedly lobby to keep her around, but Harrison is, at best, noncommittal.

“I can’t wait to get started helping others and helping others realize their dream and realize that there’s more to life than what they are living in right there,” Harrison said.

She went on: “I can’t wait. I want to help kids realize their Olympic dreams. I want to help kids overcome being victims. I want to help change — change the sport and change people’s lives.”

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