Parkrun ends trans storm over women’s records... it’s scrapped records altogether!
PARKRUN will no longer show its fastest finishers after a row on trans athletes holding female records.
The organisation will stop publishing data such as most first-place finishes, age grade and category speed records.
Parkrun, which sees thousands of athletes run through parks and athletics courses across Britain every Saturday, has been mired in accusations that it is unfair on women over entry rules which allow biological men to self-identify as females.
The organisation has also removed a search bar on its website as part of an ‘inclusivity’ drive. And historical data outlining the identity of the fastest male and female athlete to complete 5km courses has already been hidden from participants.
The decision has further incensed athletes.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies described Parkrun as ‘cowardly’ and said it should instead add course records for trans athletes alongside the existing male and female records. She said: ‘Rather than give females their fair sports results from Parkrun ... they have removed from public view all records.
‘The feelings of all females should never matter less than the feelings of a few trans-identifying males. Keep sport fair for both sexes!’
And Mara Yamauchi, a former British Olympic runner, accused Parkrun of ‘choosing to prioritise men who want to run as “female” over fairness for females’.
She wrote on X: ‘It will be interesting to see how Parkrunners react to all this data disappearing. I predict that a lot of men will be fed up about it. If males continue participating in ( females) category (at least one did last Sat), I will continue speaking up.’
The decision has also upset runners. One, who cancelled a regular donation to Parkrun, wrote online: ‘Donated since it started but I can’t bankroll an organisation that instead of correcting its poor gender policy, it hides the stats. What poor leadership.’
A Parkrun spokesman said: ‘We try hard to make sure the information we share is consistent with our values, and that we continue to find ways to remove barriers to registration and participation.
‘What was clear is that there was a disconnect between the performance data displayed and our mission to create opportunities for as many people as possible to take part in parkrun events.’
It follows a report by the think tank Policy Exchange which found three female Parkrun records were held by runners born biologically male. Backed by athletes including former tennis star Martina Navratilova, the report said Parkrun should have its government funding cut if it fails to protect female runners from transgender rivals.
Last year, trans woman Sian Longthorpe – who was living as a married man until four years ago – set a women’s record of 18 minutes and 53 seconds for the Porthcawl Parkrun.
And Lauren Jeska, also born male, holds the women’s record for the Aberystwyth Parkrun, at 17 minutes and 38 seconds.
A former British fell-running champion, Jeska was jailed for 18 years in 2017 for attempting to murder a UK Athletics official who had questioned her eligibility to compete as a female athlete.