The International Swimming Federation decided that the third does not hurt, even when it comes to the gender of the athlete. Not long ago, we were ironic about the fact that men were allowed to form groups in synchronized swimming. But now it is impossible to joke, it is sad. In water sports, the first competition in the open category will soon take place. For transgender people.
Men, women and…everyone else
World Aquatics apparently got fed up with the discussions about whether men who consider themselves women can compete in women’s competitions, and they radically got out of the situation: they announced the creation of a new category.
Athletes from the open category will be able to prove themselves very soon, at the first stage of the World Cup, which will take place in Berlin.
Last year, the tightening of the rules for the participation of transsexuals in women’s competitions in an international organization was discussed. At the same time, the rules for their participation were approved.
For example, transgender people to participate in female competitions must complete the transition when puberty begins: at the age of 12, their testosterone levels must not exceed 2.5 nanomoles per liter.
Apparently not to offend too much those who don’t abide by these restrictions, World Aquatics became the first international federation to hold separate competitions for transgender athletes.
They definitely had no place in women’s sports. This was demonstrated, in particular, by the example of the transgender Leah Thomas, who in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships outperformed the prize winners of the Tokyo Olympics over similar distances.
Leah Thomas was almost not recognized as the woman of the year:
“This is a slap to the face and a punch to the stomach!” Transgender swimmer nominated for Woman of the Year
“Now the Americans will win everything”
The professional community notes that the problem has long required a solution. He who was a man yesterday cannot swim on a par with women! But with the new category, USA and Australia will take more medals. So says two-time Olympic champion Denis Pankratov.
“If there are such people, they can talk. But this is done, rather, for countries where there is a certain supersaturation of such athletes at national championships, and they need new horizons, explained the legendary swimmer “Match TV”.
In most countries, the number of professional transgender swimmers is not enough to cover all distances. This is important, first of all, for the Americans, and, perhaps, for the Australians. We are not only talking about transgender people, but also about those who swim. And that’s just a few people. Now, I think the Americans will win all the gold. With which we congratulate them.”
It is dead end street?
The silver medalist of the Olympic Games-2012 Evgeny Korotyshkin believes that the decision of the international federation will not benefit swimming.
“We had two categories, and I think we could stay there. Will it become a competition like the Marvel Universe? Will there be subcategories? Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man… In the UK, to go to the theater, you have to specify your gender, choosing from 18 subcategories. I am afraid that if the sport takes this path, it will be a dead end in its development,” Korotyshkin told Match TV.
read thomas
Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images
But State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova agreed with World Aquatics’ decision. The politician called it “the only possible one.”
“In swimming, transgender people impressed everyone and actively attended. Faced with this situation, the international federation had to find a way out. They were not allowed to perform with women, realizing that this would destroy women’s sport. Potentially, this story could be repeated in many sports, leading to a split in the Olympic movement. So this decision to create a separate category is the only possible way out for World Aquatics,” Zhurova told Match TV.
And what about other sports?
So far, there are few such examples. As of September 11, 2023, transgender people will not be able to compete in women’s rowing in the UK. The Kingdom Rowing Federation also decided to create an open category for them. It is not yet clear if this national practice will carry over to the international level in this sport.
In athletics, where the problem of the division between men and women is also acute, they are not yet ready for radical changes. However, they are also in no hurry to soften their position and become more tolerant.
World Athletics head Sebastian Coe said the rules for transgender people participating in competitions will not change. To date, transgender athletes must have testosterone levels below the limit of 2.5 nanomoles per liter for 24 months to compete in women’s competition.
Even in chess, there is concern about the issue. The other day it became known that the International Chess Federation prohibited transgender women from participating in women’s tournaments. In this sport, in the big tournaments, the male category is usually open, so athletes who have changed their sex can compete in it. Whether a separate category will be created for chess players who have changed their gender from male to female is an open question.
The story of a Soviet chess player who was… a man?
“I felt like I was playing with a man.” How a USSR championship-winning chess player turned out to be a man
