The long list of elite sports – swimming, water polo, diving, figure swimming, diving and open water swimming – is affected by new rules that exclude almost all transgender women from competition. The policy of the International Swimming Federation Fina is the biggest ban on the participation of trans people in sports so far.
I am a trans male and professional athlete at events, including triathlon, and it was immediately clear to me that the new swimming policy is not based on science, facts, or human rights, and that it will do great harm to all women in the sport. The impetus for this attack on transgender athletes is instead based on media narratives, hypothetical “what if” scenarios, and stereotypes. Fina’s policy is the solution in finding the problem. It seems likely that other sports will make similar choices. In the UK, Culture Minister Nadine Dorries said she would urge them to do so.
Transsexual inclusion policies have been established at the highest level of sport for decades without difficulty. This ruling is ill-conceived and lacks scientific support, illustrating that when sports organizations want to ban transgender people from participating, they can easily find “experts” to support their position while ignoring the reality that exists in cooperation.
Fine’s new policy requires athletes to transition before the onset of puberty, but the access of transgender youth to gender-confirmed care is threatened in many U.S. states and countries around the world, making it increasingly difficult. And politics does nothing to protect women’s sports or to protect cissexual women in sports; on the contrary, the new Fine eligibility criteria will require invasive testing to decide who is a woman and who is not, and allow for random targeting or testing of any athlete. This policy allows for violations of privacy and bodily autonomy for all female athletes, practices called for by human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner.
Guidelines on the inclusion of transsexuals are being studied in many sports – the International Rugby League announced this week that it will ban trans women from competing under the guise of “fairness”. But if policymakers really cared about equity in sport, they would look at the real issues plaguing their organizations. They would investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption, as well as real inequalities in terms of access, funding, development opportunities and media reporting. The sports industry, especially women’s sports, can be improved in many ways; banning transgender athletes is not one of them.
Misinformation is used as a central element of this attack on justice and security. The truth is that transgender women and girls are drastically underrepresented in women’s sports. Recent polls show that 0.6% of Americans identify as transgender. With about 220,000 women competing in NCAA sports last year, that should be about 1,300 transgender athletes, but the actual number is negligible. Any policy of our involvement in sport must be based on the reality of our participation, not on misguided fears and policies.
Those who compete are not dominant, nor have they ever dominated the sport. No transgender woman has competed or is currently competing in women’s swimming at the Olympic level. Since the introduction of the first policy for transgender athletes at the Olympic level in 2003, we have seen more than 63,000 athletes become Olympians. Only two transgender women qualified for the Olympics at that time, and only one competed in Tokyo 2020 (the other was the reserve).
A realistic, fair policy would explain this truth by exploring why transgender athletes are not represented at different levels of the game – as opposed to trying to block those who try to participate.
Fina’s policy requires the creation of a third, “open” category that transgender athletes could enter, which is not a reasonable solution. In some sports, such as running, “open” or non-binary categories have been introduced as an option for athletes who do not feel comfortable competing in the binary system of men’s and women’s sports. However, this was an opportunity for the athlete to choose for himself, not to demand.
Separately, it is never the same. Requiring all transgender athletes to compete in a separate third category is isolating and harmful. In addition, this detrimental policy deprives all athletes of incredibly strong social and community aspects of sport, which include building meaningful relationships with and learning from a diverse group of teammates and participants.
Through sports, I found friends, family, and community; my teammates and coaches have been one of my biggest allies both in my transition and in life, largely because of our bond regarding a shared interest in the sport we play. Every person deserves this opportunity to create similar bonds and get to know others and themselves through sports.
It is unfortunate that the swimming community has withdrawn under pressure from advocates against transgender people, without taking into account the greater impact this will have on all women in the sport. Policies like this show that we do not believe in the power and strength of female athletes – and that we do not recognize or accept the diversity of bodies that already exists among cissexual women who differ in height, weight, strength, speed and agility like everyone else.
Pride Month is a cultural moment to appreciate the constant struggle for justice among a multitude of untruths. The truth will not rest, not even athletes who are committed to their love of sport and the connection it provides.
Chris Mosier is a professional athlete and founder of transathlete.com
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What is a good 1650 swim time?
The average swimming speed of 1650 for women aged 25 to 29 ranges from 20: 44.49 to 27: 39.29.
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What is a good swim pace?
Most people can withstand an average pace between 50-60 beats per minute (SPM) in good shape, and should feel like you’re swimming at your comfortable speed without feeling too tired or exhausted after finishing one length. A good swimming pace is sustainable.
What is a good swim lap time?
But for the most part, the average comfortable time at 100 meters is about 2 minutes, according to American Masters Swimming. To see also : Title IX and the Rise and Fall of Women’s Sport. Remember, this time is not necessarily good or bad.
Whats a good time for a 2k swim?
What is a good 2k time? A good 2k time is 40:32. To see also : Texas nurses worried about women’s health care in the post -Roe era. This is an average time of 2k for all ages and genders.
What is the world record for 500-yard swim?
Clark Smith Swims at 4: 08.82 500 Free, University of Texas record – YouTube.
How long does it take to swim to 500 yards? About the equivalent of 450 meters, 500 yards is four and a half laps in an Olympic – or 50-meter – pool; the circle is two lengths, or as they say in swimming, â € œtam and back.â € “In a standard size pool â €“ or 25 meters â € “500 yards there are nine circles.
How long is 500 free in swimming?
In swimming competitions, a 500-yard freestyle competition is usually called a “500” or “500 free”. It can be strenuous, consisting of 20 lengths of 25-foot pool. Focusing on a few 500 items can help you improve your performance.
What is the world record for 400m swim?
Ariarne Titmus now holds the world record for the fastest 400m freestyle swimming. It did so in 3: 56.40 (3 minutes, 56 seconds, 40 milliseconds).
Who is the greatest female swimmer of all time?
American swimmer Katie Ledecky is considered the best swimmer of all time due to the large number of medals and world records she has achieved. Since winning her first gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, Ledecky has maintained her top spots at all the Olympics.
Which swimmer has the most Olympic medals? Swimmer Jenny Thompson is the most distinguished American in the history of the Olympics, having won 12 medals in four Olympics: eight gold, three silver and one bronze. Swimmer Jenny Thompson is the most distinguished American in the history of the Olympics with 12 medals: eight gold, three silver and one bronze.
Who is the best swimmer in history?
10 best swimmers of all time
- Michael Phelps, born in 1985.
- Alexander Popov, born 1971 …
- Pieter van den Hoogenband, born in 1978.
- Johnny Weissmuller, born 1904 €⠀ œ died in 1984.
- Grant Hackett, born in 1980 …
- Krisztina Egerszegi, born in 1974.
- Debbie Meyer, born in 1952 …
- Kristin Otto, born 1966. Kristin Otto is a German Olympic swimming champion.
