A silver medal on the dance floor, an unbeaten gold-medal run on the hockey turf and the discovery of an international sporting whānau made the recent Gay Games an unforgettable experience for New Zealanders Scott Cole and Hayden Boyce.
The pair arrived in Valencia with fewer than two years of dancing together behind them and only one previous international competition under their belts.
“Valencia 2026 was our 2nd International competition after less than two years of dancing together, but it was our first Gay Games and the first time we have danced together as an equal partnership rather than as a Pro/Am couple like we usually do,” they said.
Their international debut had come at the Holiday Dance Classic in Las Vegas, where they reached the finals of the major Pro/Am competition.
“Our first and most recent international competition was the Holiday Dance Classic in Las Vegas, a major ProAm competition where we were finalists, so we really wanted to improve on that result in Valencia.”
They did exactly that.
Competing in American Smooth, Cole and Boyce won silver in the open-gender category and came tantalisingly close to securing a world title.
“We dance American Smooth, which is a ballroom style most people have never heard of, but one that is huge in the US and was a new addition to ballroom dancing at this year’s Games.
“We danced the open-gender category and won Silver in what is essentially the Gay Olympics and happened to also be a World Championship Title as the International Federation of Same Sex Dance recognised the event. So almost World Champions!”
The medal was a remarkable result after an injury-hit preparation that left the pair unsure whether they would be able to complete their dances.
“Our training for the event was plagued by injury — Hayden had a pretty debilitating groin injury that meant we weren’t as prepared as we should have been,” they said.
“Even the day before we competed, we couldn’t dance for more than a few seconds without having to stop, but on the day we managed to pull it all together, be in the moment and create magic.”
The judges awarded them silver, but the response from the crowd delivered another prize of its own.
“The highlight for us was the reception we got from the people watching. To be received as audience favourite of the competition was the icing on the cake, though to clinch the win would have been nice!”
For Boyce, the dancing success was only one part of an extraordinary Gay Games campaign.
He also represented the Black Bees, New Zealand’s first hockey club for gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender and heterosexual players. The team powered through seven games in four days, winning every match and dropping only one point throughout the tournament.
The achievement was made even tougher by temperatures reaching 38 degrees and the weight of expectation created by the team’s previous international success.
“The pressure was on as a lot of the team were returning after a successful tournament at WorldPride Sydney 2023, where they also won the gold medal.”
The Black Bees rose to the occasion, bringing another gold medal home to Aotearoa and strengthening the club’s reputation as both a competitive force and a welcoming sporting community.
Based at North Harbour Hockey Stadium, the club fields a mixed team on Thursday evenings and welcomes players of every ability level. Its focus is as much on connection and friendship as it is on results.
That same spirit was at the heart of the Gay Games experience.
“The Games was as much about community and inclusivity as about competition and sporting prowess,” Cole and Boyce said.
“This was reflected in how many people from other sports came and supported ballroom and hockey from the sidelines. It was genuine camaraderie, and we found a community within a community that we didn’t know existed.”
Their success now provides the perfect inspiration for athletes, supporters and first-time participants considering the Rainbow Games in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland later this year.
Registrations are open now, giving people from across Aotearoa and beyond the chance to compete, connect and celebrate in an inclusive sporting environment.
While ballroom dancing is not currently part of the Rainbow Games programme, Cole and Boyce are encouraging others to seize the opportunity.
“If you are considering participating in the Rainbow Games in Auckland this year, we encourage you to go for it,” they said.
“We will not be dancing in the Rainbow Games as there are no ballroom dance events included, but there are last-minute discussions starting to arrange a tri-nations hockey tournament for later this year.
“The next Gay Games isn’t for another four years, so in the meantime take the opportunity when it arises!”
From an audience-favourite silver medal performance to an unbeaten run for hockey gold, the Kiwi contingent showed what can happen when talent, resilience and community come together.
Now it is Auckland’s turn to carry that energy forward.
Play. Support. Celebrate.
