Female swimmers beaten by transgender athlete stage podium protest at ‘unfair’ result

[whytcvv]

When will the rules change as I completely agree this is unfair and I expect that you will all largely agree with me.

For anyone that doesn't agree, please explain your reasoning to help me better understand.

This reminds me of the weightlifting story from last year.

People that are born female and people who are born male should not be competing in these events together. Our physical bodies are not comparable.

Have as many genders as you can think of, but there are only two possible sexes that you can be born as and that is what eligibility in these competitions should be based on.

AIBU

Don't know how to add poll.

Damn autocorrect.

Women are not support humans for males who don't fit in perfectly to society's expectations.

@DrivingHomeChristmas

My daughter has learning disabilities. It has taken years of work and fighting the system for her to be able to acccess a level 3 course at college. She has to have a TA and various other support. She has come top in every exam in her year. Not because of the concessions she has but because she has worked so hard after fighting to be on the course. It’s not just about physique and biology- sportspeople will tell you it’s psychology far more than training.

@DrivingHomeChristmas

I’m delighted for your daughter, and you must be very proud.

But if you are suggesting that physicality can overcome a vast difference in strength, speed or stamina - this is not true. Yes psychology is important, but it cannot overcome the vast chasm in the physical capacities of men and women - as above, the average man has 40% more upper body strength, than the average woman, and once he starts to train, he will put on muscle at a much greater rate.

Apologies if this isn’t the point you are making, it’s not entirely clear.

@DrivingHomeChristmas - I am not quite sure what you’re saying?

Is it that female athletes could overcome the biological and physiological advantages of competitors born male if they trained harder in sports psychology?

Lia Thomas was a mediocre male swimmer, didn’t even make the uni B team, was ranked in the 400s as a male.

Yet - even though his times didn’t improve - he’s winning female competitions. This isn’t “swimming as his true self”, this is a cheat who has gone through male puberty robbing women of medals

@AddictedToVinted

The swimmer discussed on the podcast is Lia Thomas too btw don't think I made that clear.

I didn't realise it was directly linked to this swimmer so thanks for clarifying. The stats are startling.

@Boredoutmymind please explain how there are more than two SEXES?

Disgraceful that this is allowed. It is so blatantly unfair and women are supposed to just accept it.

@DrivingHomeChristmas

Are there any stats on how many times Transpeople don’t win at races? Maybe she was the best because she was so motivated and worked hard? It must take a lot of determination to be a trans athlete and maybe that determination is in her sport preparation too.

There is evidence that Lia is under performing (reduced leg movements) so as to not highlight the absolute extent of unfair advantage they have - which isn't down to extra determination

The world has gone fucking mad, and I can't believe how much women's rights are being trampled all over.

Where does it end? In theory we could end up with full spoets teams full of transwomen, because "transwomen are women" right? And actual women will have been forced out of sport.

It's infuriating.

@nolongersurprised

Lia Thomas was a mediocre male swimmer, didn’t even make the uni B team, was ranked in the 400s as a male.

Yet - even though his times didn’t improve - he’s winning female competitions. This isn’t “swimming as his true self”, this is a cheat who has gone through male puberty robbing women of medals

Since this male won a women's race with a winning time nearly 40 seconds faster than the first-placed woman, this male has reduced the effort made while racing in order to reduce that huge time difference. Swimming websites have commented on the fact that they visibly coast.

This male is a shameless cheat. What is worse, the cheating is supported and actively promoted by the organisations designed to protect the integrity of the sport.

@DrivingHomeChristmas

My daughter has learning disabilities. It has taken years of work and fighting the system for her to be able to acccess a level 3 course at college. She has to have a TA and various other support. She has come top in every exam in her year. Not because of the concessions she has but because she has worked so hard after fighting to be on the course. It’s not just about physique and biology- sportspeople will tell you it’s psychology far more than training.

Are you equating being transgender with having a learning disability? That's massively transphobic, you know.

I am all the supporting trans-rights but not at the expense of others. It is not fair for trans person to compete in a female competition. Men are much stronger than women. I also wouldn't want to share a changing room or toilet with trans. There was a case a few years back when a trans person was in a female prison and they assaulted female inmates.

For those asking “why don’t the other swimmers take a stand, refuse to swim, walk out”, you haven’t perhaps quite understood the level of control exercised over them by their coaches and colleges.

They have been told that objecting will lead to their expulsion from the team, and possibly the college. They will have no degree, no possibility of pursuing their sporting or academic life.

They have been offered counselling if any of this makes them feel unhappy.

I’m not even kidding.

This is coercive control in action.

Yes @Doris86. If a dog is castrated it’s still a male dog. As Professor Robert Winston said, ‘Your sex is actually there in every single sell in your body’.
I’d still be a woman if my breasts and uterus were removed!

This is massively unfair. The poor women competing against Lia must have felt so discouraged

*Lifestyle an athlete may need to make a choice. A footballer for example can't have a high alcohol lifestyle if it effects performance so if a person chooses to have hormones surely this is similar? It's totally unfair to disadvantage everyone else because of your personal choices.

I agree op. It makes a complete mockery of women’s swimming. These women have spent thousands of hours int he pool, most likely since they were less than 10 years old training to race at this level. All that and a biologically born male with the physical strength that comes with that, just waltzes in and takes away their chance to win. I really don’t know how they can stand on the podium with their head held high. A mediocre swimmer as a man, destroying the chances of women. Something needs to be done about it before women’s sport becomes meaningless.

*every single cell.
Bloody autocorrect.

I just despair at this.

We've always been second to men. Not permitted to compete in professional sport, by time we were 'allowed' there's now a gaping chasm between women's and men's sport that is unlikely ever to be bridged.
Now, we have to compete with physically superior men in our own bloody categories.

Transwomen are no threat to men, unlikely to impair any male's ability to compete in sport because of their natural advantage.

I really feel for the girls and women missing out on life changing opportunities at the hands of these brazen males. So unfair.

@Feelinglow27

The world has gone fucking mad, and I can't believe how much women's rights are being trampled all over.

Where does it end? In theory we could end up with full spoets teams full of transwomen, because "transwomen are women" right? And actual women will have been forced out of sport.

It's infuriating.

This is the Iranian women's football team. Eight of them are men.

Ironically, the likes of Stonewall and Pink News praise Iran for its trans rights record, when in fact gay men are encouraged to transition as homosexuality is illegal there. So progressive!

For anyone who is struggling to understand why this isn't just a 'bit unfair' but absolute blatant awful cheating, please look at the attached photo of the GB mixed relay team members at Tokyo 2020. I cannot believe some people try to justify this.

Lia Thomas could have chosen to continue competing in the correct category for their biological sex. Instead they are cheating for all the world to see. How can they have any pride in anything they are stealing achieving?

I'm furious. Everyone has rights and I defend them but this constant dumbing down of women and what we want is making me angry.

Of course women could never compete again a biological male. That's the whole point of having segregated sports.

Nope. Biological males on average have larger lung volumes, muscle mass and strength than women. If they are that desperate to win they have to go compete against biological women who have the disadvantage I despair. Madness.