FINA-LLY SEEING SENSE...
DECISION BY SWIMMING CHIEFS OVER TRANS ATHLETES COMPETING IN WOMEN’S EVENTS WILL LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD ONCE AGAIN
DEPENDING on which aisle of the divide you stand, for what seems to be the majority, sanity has finally prevailed in women’s sports.
On Sunday, swimming’s world governing body, FINA, announced a ban on biological men competing in women’s events unless they had “transitioned” before the age of 12.
In essence, it means transgender athletes who have benefited from the long-term competitive advantages of a testosterone-rich adolescence, such as increased muscle mass, lung capacity, and height, would no longer have an unfair competitive edge in women’s sports.
In enforcing the ban, FINA said it would establish a new, “open” category for athletes who identify as women but do not meet the requirement to compete against people who were female at birth.
The issue came to a head following the success of American university swimmer Lia Thomas.
A somewhat mediocre swimmer when she competed against males, she became a superstar in the pool against women after swapping genders.
Thomas went from the 554th US-ranked male in the 200 freestyle to the fastest woman in the 500 freestyle at the championships this year.
Looking at her numbers and times, there was no denying the advantages she had. They would put her at Olympic standard.
The move by her university to ensure Thomas was allowed to compete against swimmers born female came at a cost.
Coaches hellbent on ensuring their woke policies were enforced, created an oppressive atmosphere within the female swim team.
They didn’t care about crushing the hopes and aspirations of those who dedicated their whole lives to the pool, instead opting to cow those who believed the decision unfair into silence.
In reality, mediocre biological males will always beat even elite female athletes.
Anyone who doubts it only needs to look at the
13 and 14-year-old boys in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle in America. All swim faster than the women’s world record holders in these events.
As I have repeatedly stated, I am all for people having the freedom to do whatever they want with their bodies.
I, like most, support anyone who wants to transition from male to female or vice versa. Live and let live.
But the whole issue of transgender people in sport not only sets female-born athletes back, but it has become one of the most toxic issues today, largely fuelled by those born male.
Those who dare speak out – like former UK Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies – are issued with vile death threats as they are labelled TERFs (transexclusionary radical feminist).
They are targeted for arguing for a level playing field for those who compete.
It should not have been left to lone wolves to champion fairness in sport as officials feared putting their heads above the woke parapets.
Now that FINA has broken ranks, it appears the flood gates have been opened with other governing bodies such as athletics and rugby, saying that they will also review the policies.
I fully support LGBTQ rights but cannot help think, in an age where equality is paramount, this is the right decision.
In reality, mediocre biological males will always beat even elite female athletes