WH Paralympian Swimmer

[ButlerianJihad]

Just on a min ago, Emma pushed her quite hard on fairness in womens sport right now. Emma doing a great job, but felt so sorry for her guest who really sounded like a hostage terrified of saying the wrong thing.

It was disappointing but it was clear that Ellie Simmonds was desperate to escape from the question.

The positive take for me is that her non-answer was better than her chanting TWAW. People know and they don't like what's going on.

Awww I really like Ellie Simmonds. I hope she doesn't get bullied by idiots on twitter after this.

It's good that she wasn't badgered on the programme, just pushed a bit, but as a Paralympian she will have a very strong sense of the importance of putting people in the right categories for elite sporting events.

But I fully understand her steering away from the risk of putting a target on her own back.

Ironic that my 6'2" dh could identify as a woman of restricted growth, and one half of that statement would be considered brave and and not even needing defence or justification, whereas the other half would be considered an offensive and indefensible lie.

It doesn’t seem very fair to push individual athletes on this question. It’s for politicians and bureaucrats to fix.

@tabbycatstripy

It doesn’t seem very fair to push individual athletes on this question. It’s for politicians and bureaucrats to fix.

Yes I agree.

Yes - it is for the 'higher ups to fix, that's where they basically landed. All the more galling however that the higher ups have abdicated their responsibility on this and abuse the trust of those who have to depend on them to do the right thing.

As nauticant said, at least she didn't say TWAW and did her very best to offer a diplomatic answer that wasn't going to lead to her being terrorised - she could have copped right out and said the lines but she didn't and that was commendable. I was surprised Emma didn't just let it drop straight off but It's good hear the questions being asked.

I want to hear those higher ups being ridden hard on this.

Wasn't there a politician recently who said that these questions shouldn't be for politicians to decide?

AFAIK Ellie Simmonds still volunteers with Girlguiding so she has an additional reason to worry/watch what she says.

It was a fair question. She's a retired Olympic swimmer. Lia Thomas is in the news and Sharron Davies has taken a very public stance along with other former athletes. It was not unreasonable to ask what Ellie Simmonds' views were. Emma Barnett didn't push very hard and was really gentle once it became clear how nervous Ellie was about saying the 'wrong' thing. Emma saves her tough questioning for politicians and the professionally slippery. I thought it was a good piece and Ellie's reaction spoke volumes.

Ellie will be looking at the current threats and intimidation of the young women athletes who've spoken out and understandably, want to protect herself from them. Remember trans activists love to bully any lone woman when they can.

@tabbycatstripy

It doesn’t seem very fair to push individual athletes on this question. It’s for politicians and bureaucrats to fix.

I disagree.

All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to remain silent.

Organisations - including politicians - have taken advice and direction from the people who shouted loudest.

I completely accept EllieSimmonds fearing the backlash from TRAs should she speak up, and therefore doing her best to appear neutral. But she knows as well as any athlete the importance of putting yourself against your class of athletes. It was a fair question to ask.

Felt a bit sorry for Ellie. I thought it was fair enough for Emma to put the question given Sharron Davies stance. She backed off soon enough though.

I thought she relied too much in saying she he people in charge should know best - looking at you BC, the FA, swimming association etc. As somebody who has swim in very clear categories, she could have been asked how important it is to acknowledge that differences in physical strength across groups of people should be recognised.

God that was just so disappointing! A mealy mouthed response if ever there was one. She knows. What a shame on her that she refused the opportunity to use her platform to defend womens sport.