Hello Fellow Swimmers,
I got into swimming late in 2004 and swam on and off since then. in 2012 i was swimming like 20 - 25 hours a week and competed for my team on the mens side. My last race was in july of 2012, the same time that I started with Hormone Replacement Therapy to begin my physical transformation. Im just getting back into swimming and can tell I'm very out of shape and have a long way to go before I start considering competing now as a woman which brings me to my main question.
I would like to know what peoples thoughts are on it, because the last thing I want is for people to yell at me at a meet, or to call me a cheater, or to make a scene. The men can weigh in their thoughts, but mainly looking for the responses from the women as I will be swimming with them, and not the guys.
Also, please be respectful.
Thank you,
Cassie
If you want to swim, then swim. Most people will be supportive. Some will not, but I'm sure you know this much from your experience outside the pool. I say go for it!
When all the layers are stripped away, all I really want is to swim, race, and beat my own personal times. Sure winning is fun, but I just want to try to beat my PR's and swim agaist the clock, even if meant I would have to get DQ'd in every race, I would still do it.
:welcome: This is what Masters is all about for most of us who compete. Sure, there are those out there who take it VERY seriously and want to beat their opponents; however, I think most Masters swimmers are like you and me: We just want to compete against the clock and have fun. (In my case, I'm 54, and I am the "poster child" for the Georgia Masters motto: "The older we get, the faster we were.")
Good luck and have a blast! :cheerleader:
Thank you for your responses. Very helpful, and feeling less nervous about starting to compete in 4-5 months. I also yet have to go to college and would like to be able to swim there if possible and if I can swim anywhere near what I did before, I will be able to and would love to have that experience to remember for the rest of my life. When all the layers are stripped away, all I really want is to swim, race, and beat my own personal times. Sure winning is fun, but I just want to try to beat my PR's and swim agaist the clock, even if meant I would have to get DQ'd in every race, I would still do it.
Based on what I have looked up, for college sports, I just need to be on hormones for 2 years minum and be legally female, (i.e docs changed).
and when I look for masters, it appears that they follow the IOC and it states that I would have to have the lower surgery (SRS / GRS) a minimum of 2 years prior to the date of competition. This surgery is planned but cost make it a lengthy process.
On my team, many knew me before transition and they have welcomed me back as the new me, but some that are new to the team, dont know unless I or someone else tells them so Im not very masculine at all.
Now I see I was reading the old rules, found this.
swimswam.com/.../
This lessens my worries a lot more. I felt bad because I wanted to compete and wanted to follow the rules, and if I did follow the rules based on how I knew them, I would not be able to compete... now I see I can compete and follow the rules. :) yay!.
Please, absolutely, contact Anna Lea for correct information about the rules for USMS. But I didn't read your question as being about rules so much as about what to expect socially if you compete as a woman if and when the rules allow you to do it.
If you're just doing Masters swimming I don't think anyone is going to really care and I doubt it will matter at all.
I disagree with this assessment. For sports, MtF is different from FtM. Some women will object to your competing, particularly if you beat them. They are more likely to grumble than to confront you, but they will wonder why they have to race a "man." You will need to be ready either to ignore their grumbling or to meet their objections, such as by explaining to them why the rules allow you to compete and (on a related note) why you don't actually have an unfair advantage by having gone through puberty as a man. I know that it's not fair to demand that you be an ambassador every time you just go out to do something fun, but I don't think you can pretend it won't happen.
If you want to swim, then swim. Most people will be supportive. Some will not, but I'm sure you know this much from your experience outside the pool. I say go for it!
On the other hand, I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. For myself, I assume that our USMS rules on this topic strike the appropriate balance between recognizing sex differences in sport and including people who don't fit into the most common categories. I also know that if I think our rules don't work I can participate in changing them, and I know in the end that our organization's overall goal is to extend the pleasure of swimming as fast as possible to as many people as possible. So if you worked out with me I'd welcome you to practice, and if you raced me at a meet I'd wish you a good swim and congratulate you when we finished.
Hello swimmistressusa,
I'm the USMS membership director. Give me a call and I can explain our policy (it is currently being revised). My direct line is 941-556-6279, or my email address is Membership(at)usms(dot)org.
Anna Lea Matysek
If you're just doing Masters swimming I don't think anyone is going to really care and I doubt it will matter at all. I can't imagine anyone at a Masters meet saying or doing anything. I can't remember any thing going on at a meet besides people having fun and racing.
There was a story a few months ago, I think it might have been the Sunday Morning program on CBS, about a female to male swimmer for one of the college teams. She originally swam with the women's team, then came back the next year and he swam with the male team. The coach thought there would be problems with some of the men, but I don't think anyone had any problems with it at all.
The ambience at local meets (Oregon) and National meets varies between hyper and intense and laid back and social, depending on the swimmer. There is a lot of team spirit but also an openness and interest in getting to know the swimmers on other teams. When you compete you will be there with the team mates you have been training with, and the friends you make on that team are part of your support system at meets, as they are for any swimmer.
I am sorry you have to inquire about your potential reception, it's just still a reality now. My daughter transitioned several years ago and quickly found her supportive community within her interests, the gaming community. She's been outspoken about who she is and what responses she has received, both positive and negative. Every time she shares a negative experience, she gives people an opportunity to step up and disavow what was said or done.
Please continue to share here. We are your community. Carol Stark
Hi, Seal Girl! :wave: (Forumites, sorry about the brief:hijack: )
I hope you are doing well! I wish I could join you in cheering on King Frog at Nationals, but we decided to go to 2017 LC Nationals in Minnesota, instead.
Good on ya for speaking up here on this thread. :applaud: I'm sure your support will be appreciated. I join you in being part of the supportive community for swimmistressusa! :agree:
The ambience at local meets (Oregon) and National meets varies between hyper and intense and laid back and social, depending on the swimmer. There is a lot of team spirit but also an openness and interest in getting to know the swimmers on other teams. When you compete you will be there with the team mates you have been training with, and the friends you make on that team are part of your support system at meets, as they are for any swimmer.
I am sorry you have to inquire about your potential reception, it's just still a reality now. My daughter transitioned several years ago and quickly found her supportive community within her interests, the gaming community. She's been outspoken about who she is and what responses she has received, both positive and negative. Every time she shares a negative experience, she gives people an opportunity to step up and disavow what was said or done.
Please continue to share here. We are your community. Carol Stark
