It was about 97 degrees outside when Wes Coleman stepped onto the tennis court at the Hoover Met in Birmingham. The heat index was up to 106 degrees, and it felt even hotter on the hardcourt, where dark blue and green concrete absorbed the sun like a sponge.

Coleman competed in men’s singles. The 43-year-old slugged it out in the wet Birmingham heat, describing the match as more of a “last man standing” competition than one of skills. By the end, Coleman had come out on top, beating his opponent 8-2 and taking gold.