Nationals Kudos

Honestly you need to make this far more well known outside of USMS. No major media source has picked this up. Start with your local news as well as SwimSwam

I haven’t looked at the final results, but imagine if any of these events had more than 10 competitors. The 11th place finisher just lost the thrill of receiving a National medal. To some, that’s a pretty big deal and a goal they worked toward. It’s just as damaging/disappointing as the second place finishes.

Mine Is filed as well! Make some noise Ladies!!!!

There are points to consider as well. This isn't just about individual standings but team rankings as well!!!

Wow! Right you are. And I did look up the events and yes, all of them had 11th place finishers that missed the podium and didn’t score the 1 point for their team. This DOES affect many!

And one more issue to consider, Angie. This HIGHLY affects NQTs and completely skews the average to where many can’t qualify. Perhaps this is why following last years Spring Nats, the qualifying time for woman’s 50-54 1000 free DROPPED by 1 minute, 30 seconds!!! My wife took seventh with more than 10 entered and now wouldn’t qualify. I did bring this to USMS attention and basically got a brush off. Hard to accept with 5-6 days a week training and dedicated pace work specifically for that race. 

Get a grip. The 10th place time in the 1000 for W50-54 in 2024 was 12:41, which is not exactly blazing. Even if any of those swimmers were trans women, they are neither fast enough nor numerous enough to have a significant impact on NQTs. Or are you now convinced that every non-slow woman must once have been a boy or man?

#boycottUSMS2026membership

Women need to refuse to sign up for masters swimming membership next year. If no women swim at meets, Caldas will have to swim with the men or swim alone. Women need to come together & make a stand. I know it’s a sacrifice because swim meets are fun & rewarding but if we don’t, nothing will change. 

We don’t want to keep anyone from swimming, so the only fair way forward is separate categories. If you weren’t born a female (XX), then you NEVER get to compete in the female category. 

Evidently this person has been swimming at Masters meets since 2010 with a break to do Xrossfit. why is this only acknowledged now. 

If USMS has submitted this swimmer's times to World Aquatics, then three possibilities exist:

(1) she isn't trans; or
(2) she is trans and meets both the USMS and the World Aquatics standards for competing as a woman; or
(3) she is trans, but has not said so to USMS and nobody previously has protested her eligibility.

The current USMS policy allows most trans women to swim in USMS events as women, but it acknowledges that the World Aquatics rules are stricter.

An eligibility protest is the proper way to handle this concern. And if people believe USMS policy needs to change, they should advocate for that change as well, although IMO they should do so based on facts and not on hyperbole or fear.