Trans cyclist wins elite women's division race in Massachusetts
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (TND) — A transgender athlete took the top spot in an elite women's division cycling race in Massachusetts over the weekend.
It's just the latest example of trans athlete dominance that has critics claiming a lack of fairness in women's sports over transgender inclusion.
Sports organizations continue to face backlash for perceivably prioritizing inclusivity over concerns about fairness.
Austin Killips, a 27-year-old transgender woman, claimed victory in the Verge Northampton International Cyclocross held in Northampton on November 12. Her winning time was 50 minutes and 25 seconds.
Second place went to 17-year-old Ava Holmgren of Canada, who was just one second slower than Killips. Third place went to fellow American Lizzy Gunsalus, a 19-year-old, who was just six seconds slower than the winner.
Critics lambasted Killips's win. Many took issue with Northampton International's event policy of allowing her to compete in the women's field. Some likened it to cheating, and others congratulated Holmgren and Gunsalus instead of Killips, as they were both born female.
Yet, according to the rules, Killips is allowed to compete in the women's division. In fact, Northampton International seemingly celebrates the inclusion of trans athletes in the event's inclusion policy.
The Northampton International organization firmly believes that all attendees should have an equal opportunity to participate in our event regardless of their race, color, religion, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin," the policy reads.
We recognize that participation in sport is a human right," the policy continues. "We strive to create an enjoyable event for those currently active in cyclocross in all the different ways they participate, and an inviting one for those who have not joined us yet."
Northampton International adds in the policy that it follows inclusion rules set by USA Cycling and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
UCI, the international governing body for competitive cycling, released new guidance on transgender athlete inclusion in June. That guidance tightened restrictions on displayed testosterone levels of transgender athletes, especially those competing against women.
The new policies from UCI come after transgender athletes have repeatedly dominated in women's competitions, leading to a worldwide discussion over fairness in women's sports.
Transgender athletes' inclusion in women's sports has drawn fierce backlash from critics who say trans competitors have an unfair and insurmountable biological advantage over biologically female athletes.
Supporters of trans inclusion point to hormone and testosterone suppressants as evening the field in regard to that advantage, but repeated wins by trans athletes cause the argument and concerns to perpetually resurface.
Sometimes, critics suggest boycotting the competitions that allow transgender inclusion as a way to push back. One critic online repeated this idea following Killips's win.
Back in April, women cyclists set to compete in the British National Omnium Championship in Derby, England considered boycotting the event after learning a transgender cyclist wanted to compete with biological women.
Officials stepped in, barring the trans athlete from the championship race. All podium spots then went to biological women.
Perhaps the most famous, or infamous, example of a trans athlete dominating in a women's sport is the University of Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas, who won an NCAA women's championship while competing against biological women.
