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Original poster

Shot putter Amelia Strickler "It's not exclusion, it's just preserving fairness"

44 replies

BigFrau · 31/03/2023 09:48

This morning, Radio 4 news programme Today featured a short interview with shot putter Amelia Strickler on World Athletics' decision to keep women's sports for women.

It's a great interview. Strickler is articulate, clear and unwavering in her belief that women's sports are for women. She covers everything (albeit briefly) from the Olympics to parkrun.

I liked the bit where she said "I wish these companies [big sports brand sponsors] would back their female athletes".

I also loved the fact she used the terms "biological males" and "trans identifying males" throughout.

She is just ace. Give it a listen - it'll cheer you up on this drizzly morning and I guarantee you'll say "yesssss!!" out loud at least twice.

Fast forward to about 2:27:40 (the interview was about half an hour from the end of the programme).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001kgzs

Today - 31/03/2023 - BBC Sounds

News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001kgzs

OP posts:
BathTangle · 31/03/2023 09:59

Yes, I really enjoyed this. The presenter kept trying to make out that it was all terribly complicated and nuanced and she was just really clear, taking a common sense attitude that biological males don't belong in women's sport.

WickedSerious · 31/03/2023 10:02

BathTangle · 31/03/2023 09:59

Yes, I really enjoyed this. The presenter kept trying to make out that it was all terribly complicated and nuanced and she was just really clear, taking a common sense attitude that biological males don't belong in women's sport.

I'm getting to a point where I want to scream every time I hear the word 'nuanced'.

borntobequiet · 31/03/2023 10:09

That was a terrific interview from Amelia and in fact the presenter did a very good job, asking the sort of questions that allowed her to fully make her case with no interruptions or needless quibbling.

borntobequiet · 31/03/2023 10:11

Using the word nuanced in the question, and then letting her make it clear that no nuance is involved, was I think well judged.

BathTangle · 31/03/2023 10:13

borntobequiet · 31/03/2023 10:09

That was a terrific interview from Amelia and in fact the presenter did a very good job, asking the sort of questions that allowed her to fully make her case with no interruptions or needless quibbling.

Yes, I agree: it was great to see that opportunity given and such straightforward answers provided.

titchy · 31/03/2023 10:14

I particularly liked that she said no-one was actually being excluded, simply asked to compete in their sex classification.

Rightsraptor · 31/03/2023 10:14

I liked how she kept it focused on women and what's best for us. She wasn't sidetracked by the 'complicated and nuanced', didn't go down the path that interviewer lay - 'but they [TW athletes] will have gone through so much before they finally transition blah blah'. She stuck to her guns.

HarmonicAnalysis · 31/03/2023 10:22

Glad you posted the link to this, BigFrau - I heard it too and thought Amelia was absolutely fantastic. So, so clear and to the point. She brought it back to the impact on women and girls, and our rights to fairness in sport, every time, and really joined the dots between the lower levels all the way up to elite level - i.e. that girls, who are often already put off sport when young, won't bother carrying on if they learn from an early age that they shouldn't expect fairness in their competition. She was brilliant. Slam dunk! (Or whatever the shot put equivalent is!)

Original poster
BigFrau · 31/03/2023 10:23

Rightsraptor · 31/03/2023 10:14

I liked how she kept it focused on women and what's best for us. She wasn't sidetracked by the 'complicated and nuanced', didn't go down the path that interviewer lay - 'but they [TW athletes] will have gone through so much before they finally transition blah blah'. She stuck to her guns.

Yes! She was totally focused on women and girls.

Listening to it again, I actually think the interviewer is very effective. He sets out the opposing arguments but doesn't make them "his" arguments, if you seen what I mean. Some interviewers act like it's almost a personal attack on them when interviewees disagree with them on this topic.

OP posts:
titchy · 31/03/2023 10:32

Slam dunk! (Or whatever the shot put equivalent is!)

Oof. Thwack?

Original poster
BigFrau · 31/03/2023 10:40

After this interview I had a satisfying mental image of her shot-putting certain individuals into the stratosphere

OP posts:
VoleClock · 31/03/2023 10:41

Thanks BigFrau - just listened - I didn't realise the massive difference in shot sizes between men and women (men 7.something kg and women 4.something) and the men's average distance is still about 3 metres further than the women's - that really shows up how a few mediocre men could completely wipe the board with Amelia and her fellow putters, if given the chance

bellinisurge · 31/03/2023 10:44

It was brilliant. The interviewer put some waffling "be kind" questions and she swatted them away with ease. It's great to see sportswomen feeling empowered to deal with this line of questioning. And her call to other athletes AND their sponsors was measured and impressive.

ValerieDoonican · 31/03/2023 10:48

👏👏👏to Amelia Strickler. Superbly clear.

Abra1t · 31/03/2023 10:51

So much fairer than Evan D would have been.

WarningToTheCurious · 31/03/2023 11:06

The interviewer was Chris Dennis, who specialises in athletics broadcasting. I think he did a good job at presenting so many of the #bekind arguments for Amelia to clearly rebut, and gave her the opportunity to answer fully and honestly.

maltravers · 31/03/2023 11:06

It was the sports reporter who conducted the interview, (he did well I thought and played it fairly) which seems to be a more acceptable way to some of introducing the topic. The Guardian also gets this covered by Sports I understand from Hadley Freeman’s comments when she left. It’s ok to see this as a Sports issue, just not a women’s issue …!

maltravers · 31/03/2023 11:06

Sorry, cross posted there

RufustheSpeculatingreindeer · 31/03/2023 11:12

I think thats the same lady that was on a bbc interview the other day (could be wrong, i only remember the blonde bob)

and at one point the interviewer said something like ‘what would you say to to the trans children that now can’t play sports’

xabia · 31/03/2023 11:20

Great interview! Well done Amelia👏

Peregrina · 31/03/2023 11:26

and at one point the interviewer said something like ‘what would you say to to the trans children that now can’t play sports’

What would you say to women and girls who know that if they are competing against a biological male they won't win so may as well give up now? Or wait, should we invent a biological woman's category?

She quite correctly said that no one is stopping them, they just need to complete in the correct category for their biological sex.

Original poster
BigFrau · 31/03/2023 11:32

RufustheSpeculatingreindeer · 31/03/2023 11:12

I think thats the same lady that was on a bbc interview the other day (could be wrong, i only remember the blonde bob)

and at one point the interviewer said something like ‘what would you say to to the trans children that now can’t play sports’

Seriously?
Do you remember what BBC interview it was?

OP posts:
nilsmousehammer · 31/03/2023 11:36

RufustheSpeculatingreindeer · 31/03/2023 11:12

I think thats the same lady that was on a bbc interview the other day (could be wrong, i only remember the blonde bob)

and at one point the interviewer said something like ‘what would you say to to the trans children that now can’t play sports’

Bravo that woman. And urgh those bloody manipulative misogynist questions...

'complicated and nuanced' - women really should give at least some of their equality up to men

'been through so much' - women you owe your equality to really sad men as a consolation prize

'what would you say to a child who now can't play sports' - NO CHILD CANNOT PLAY SPORTS. What would I say to a child sobbing because they cannot remove women's rights for their own benefit? I'd say it is not all about you, and I expect you to show respect for women and their equality instead of demanding that they sacrifice themselves for you.

EndlessTea · 31/03/2023 11:37

Thank you so much OP. She’s brilliant.

WarningToTheCurious · 31/03/2023 12:36

Amelia has done a great job of triggering trans Twitter 🤣