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Competitors whose gender differs from their birth sex, including transgender athletes, participate in elite-level competitions. World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming announced on July 25, it will be introducing an "Open" category for swimming events. 

In recent years, the topic of transgender athletes in school sports has sparked intense discussions. Over 20 states have approved legislation specifically targeting transgender girls and women athletes. 

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Transgender athletes 

The International Swimming Federation (FINA), which governs aquatic competitions worldwide, responded to the challenges posed by transgender athletes by enacting a new policy in June 2022.

 This policy stipulates that transgender swimmers must complete their transition before the age of 12 to be eligible for competing in women's events. The governing body cited scientific evidence suggesting that transitioning after the start of puberty could provide an advantage.

FINA's president, Husain Al-Musallam, emphasized the importance of preserving competitive fairness while also ensuring inclusivity in aquatic competitions. 

The new policy attempts to strike a balance by creating an "open" category where all athletes can compete at an elite level while maintaining distinct categories for male-to-female and female-to-male transgender athletes.

The Lia Thomas debate

Lia Thomas's story exemplifies the complexities surrounding transgender athletes. And it has caused a public debate in the sports world.

Thomas is a 6’1″ biological male. After transitioning and joining the women's team at Yale, she made history by becoming the national NCAA swimming champion in the women's 500-yard freestyle.

Before her transition, she competed on the men’s team for three years. During that time she ranked in 554th place in the 200-yard freestyle.

Former Olympic gold medalist and transgender advocate Caitlyn Jenner expressed her views on the matter.

While supporting transgender rights, she claims that biological boys should not participate in women's sports to protect the integrity of women's competitions. 

“She knows when she’s swimming she’s beating the competition by two laps. She was born as a biological boy. She was raised as a biological boy. Her cardiovascular system is bigger. Her respiratory system is bigger.” 

“Her hands are bigger. She can swim faster. That’s a known. All of this is woke world that we’re living in right now is not working.”

“I feel sorry for the other athletes that are out there, especially at Penn or anyone she’s competing against, because in the woke world you have to say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is great.’ No it’s not,” Jenner concluded.

She commended Emma Weyant, who came in second place behind Lia Thomas, as the rightful champion in this swimming event.