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Is a 'Trans Division' the answer?

Is a 'Trans Division' the answer?


Is a 'Trans Division' the answer?

An association of swimming coaches thinks they have a solution to the issue of trans males competing against females, but the head of a Christian athletic organization isn't so sure.

Last month, the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) called to create a separate division for transgender athletes.

"For the sport of swimming, the inclusion of transgender people on the grounds of fairness cannot co-exist in the current competitive model," the WSCA said in a statement. "Swimming should choose to offer competition in which the female category is protected for reasons of competitive fairness."

On the plus side, Steve McConkey, president of 4 Winds Christian Athletics, says all of the publicity is bringing about some positive changes. But he wonders if creating a "Trans Division" will suffice.

McConkey, Steve (4 Winds Christian Athletics) McConkey

"Are they going to have this category in high schools for people who are transitioning, for kids 12 years old," he poses. "It's a really bad idea, because no matter what, you should never bother a person under 18 for transitioning, ever."

He is, however, encouraged that the general public is "beginning to see through all this."

"You're starting to see a lot of Olympic athletes, Olympic officials, Olympic coaches, and people start to really stand up and say, 'Hey, wait a minute -- We need to take a hard look at this. This is not right,'" McConkey observes.

The WSCA has stated that including transgender people into female sports "cannot be balanced with fairness due to the retained differences in strength, stamina, and physique."