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Updates on the Spring Nationals Eligibility Review - Main Thread

Kyle Deery

USMS is monitoring media reports, comments on these forums, and responding to member inquiries on the allegations regarding the eligibility of one of our members. We felt it might be helpful to provide updates in one place and this thread will serve that purpose.

Over the past week, USMS has received several formal eligibility review requests. In keeping with our published policy, the eligibility review panel was convened late last week to gather and assess the facts. Those with standing who have requested an eligibility review have been notified and will receive updates directly from the panel as appropriate. The panel will make a final determination based on the evidence presented. Speculation or commentary outside the review will not be part of the decision.

Many members have contacted us with questions and suggestions about our transgender eligibility policy. After the eligibility review is complete, USMS leadership and relevant committees will take time to reflect on member input and other details that emerge from the process to determine whether updates to the policy are appropriate and in line with USMS’s mission and values.

We ask for your patience as this process continues, and we thank you for being part of a community that values thoughtful and respectful dialogue, integrity, and the shared love of swimming. (5/9/2025)

Parents

  • U.S. Masters Swimming’s Board of Directors and Rules Committee have initiated a review of USMS's transgender swimmer policy, which addresses the eligibility of transgender athletes to earn official times and other forms of recognition (places, records, and Top 10 rankings) at USMS events. USMS remains committed to ensuring members of all backgrounds feel welcome in our programs, while also recognizing the importance of fair competition in our events.

    USMS will proceed thoughtfully and respectfully in evaluating the policy and will incorporate input received from members, applicable World Aquatics policies, and the various and rapidly changing state and local regulations that make creating a national policy complex.

    The final policy will be communicated to members.

    Furthermore, USMS is addressing two other related issues:

    • USMS has received requests to confirm the eligibility of two swimmers who competed at the 2025 Spring National Championship. The established review process is underway.
    • USMS has received a letter from the Texas Attorney General’s Office requesting documentation related to the 2025 Spring National Championship in San Antonio and is cooperating with the Texas Attorney General’s Office to respond accordingly.

    We appreciate your patience and engagement as USMS works through these matters with care.

    Sincerely,

    Dawson Hughes, CEO of U.S. Masters Swimming, and Ed Coates, President of U.S. Masters Swimming (6/3/25)

  • in reply to daniel.paulling

    Two years ago, Swim England updated their transgender policy (not just for Masters but for all of their competitive swimming).  They changed their "Male" category to "Open" and defined it to include "athletes with a birth sex of male, trans or non-binary competitors."  So they have two categories for swim meets, "Female" and "Open."

    Per the below article, it sounds like they didn't revise their swimsuit rules for the "Open" category, keeping them the same as the former "Male" rules.  And this was the result:

    Trans Woman Swims Topless In Competition Against Men To Protest New Rule
    https://www.aol.com/trans-woman-swims-topless-competition-181104638.html

  • in reply to KUJayhawk

    So if a trans woman goes to nationals and swims in the "women's" division she can't score in that division, but what if her time places her in the top ten for "men". Does she score points for her team,does she get a medal. What if her coach then wants her to swim on the "men's" relay because they need the points?

  • in reply to Allen Stark

    After more thought, The problem I see with the interim plan is that trans women's swims become exhibition swims. I see the point of the failure of the open division to attract enough competition, though I wonder if it would have more entrants in Masters. What I would suggest is similar to how Canada Nationals handled foreign swimmers. I'd say have an open division and if a trans woman finishes in the top ten at a Meet or in Top Ten she would get that recorded in the open division. It might look clumsy to have a Top Ten with less than 10 people, but it seems to me fairer. So the Open Top Ten might have only a 3rd place and a 7th place finish and it would give them something to aim for. (There is precedence in athletics for 10 to not meaning 10, like the Big Ten Conference.) 

  • in reply to Allen Stark

    Thank you for this thoughtful idea, Allen. I really appreciate the dialogue you are fostering here.

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