Female swimmers are reacting to the news that transgender women will not be allowed to compete in women’s swimming events, saying they are “finally happy that we have a decision.”
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Swimming’s governing body, FINA, announced Sunday that it would set up an “open category,” allowing transgender athletes to compete separately from women’s swimming events.
“I’m really supportive of the open category that they’re suggesting that they are going to bring into competition because it gives everybody a chance to be involved in our sport,” Australian Olympic champion Emily Seebohm said. “I love my sport. I want to share it with everyone. So, let’s get everyone involved and let’s just keep it fair.”
Seebohm called it a fair ruling, pointing to a science-based decision.
“With this decision that was made, it was not just made by people that have no idea. It was made by people who specialize in this, who are scientists, who know the science behind it, who can back their decision,” Seebohm added. “I’m happy that there’s finally being a decision made. We can all move on. Like, we can all just go back to the sport that we love and enjoying it and know that we’re getting in the pool and know it’s going to be a fair, level playing field. That’s what we want.”
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Fellow Aussie swimmer Cate Campbell also spoke in support of the ban, saying, “without fair competition, sport, in its elite sense, would cease to exist.”
Caitlyn Jenner, who is a transgender woman, also offered support following news of FINA’s ban, tweeting “It worked! I took a lot of heat — but what’s fair is fair! If you go through male puberty you should not be able to take medals away from females. Period.”
It worked! I took a lot of heat – but what’s fair is fair! If you go through male puberty you should not be able to take medals away from females. Period. https://t.co/qqZq7gnt6g
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) June 19, 2022
Not everyone agrees, however.
Australian Olympian Maddie Groves, who withdrew from last year’s Tokyo Games selection trials over her support for including transgender athletes, pushed back against her former teammates’ support for a ban.
“So you ban them from competing with their peers? You’re okay with ostracising an already marginalised group? Real accepting,” Groves tweeted.
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University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas has been at the center of controversy after the athlete became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history to win the women’s 500-yard freestyle earlier this year.
Thomas, who has expressed hopes of competing for a spot in the Olympics, will be barred from participating in the women’s category under the new policy.
