Gender and competition

RE: Gender and competition

07HCE — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:49:11 GMT

Absolutely agree Michael. My question, I am planning next years competition schedule. Nationals are in California and Virginia. Since USMS has not clearly taken a stand a male could swim as an identifying female in California win an age group event and receive the corresponding medal. But their time would not be considered for Top 10..

Since USMS has opted not to take a clear stand on defining what a women is and left the decision to each state jurisdiction.( likely to avoid more lawsuits) I have no interest in spending money to travel to California or Virginia to compete against a male who identifies as a female. My medical background does not define gender by how you feel or identify. There are without a doubt clear differences and advantages that a male has that do not disappear no matter what hormone you are taking.

This really should not be this complicated.

If anyone is aware of how the genders will be handled in these 2 states for nationals please advise.

RE: Gender and competition

006F3 — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:17:26 GMT

Well said!

RE: Gender and competition

Marieke — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:21:26 GMT

My understanding of the terminology is that trans men are females who identify as males and trans women were born men and identify as femaile. So a trans male competing with the men is not a problem because that person is at a disadvantage. A trans female competing against people who were born female is the problem.

The problem with the interim policy is that birth certificates can be changed in some places and it will be hard to detect that they have been changed. So a trans female could indeed swim with the women and have an advantage if she was born in a place where her birth certificate could be changed from male to female.

RE: Gender and competition

Michael Heather — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:05:26 GMT

It is an idiotic response to a simple problem. Men - Women. There are no in- betweens, no crossovers. By allowing a mental illness to be recognized as anywhere near normal destroys the simplicity and dignity of the sport.

An interim rule is no rule at all. It only means that some activist group has scared the board into doing something they should never have considered. Ever.