Last Updated on October 25, 2019

Trans athlete, Rachel McKinnon, recently made headlines after winning the 35-39 age category cycle sprint, questioning the role of male-to-female transgender athletes in women’s sport for holding an innate physiological advantage over biological women.

McKinnon accused 3rd place runner-up, Dawn Orwick, of “poor sportsmanship” after Orwick refused to extend her arm to be wrapped around McKinnon on the podium.

McKinnon has clashed with female athletes Martina Navratilova and Paula Radcliffe over the issue.

However, the fact remains, trans athletes have been smashing records–and competitors–in women’s sports.

MMA

In 2014, trans athlete, Fallon Fox, made international headlines after becoming the first trans MMA fighter.

One of Fox’s competitors, Tamika Brents, was so battered during a fight, she suffered a broken skull and concussion before being TKO’d.

Rugby

Last month, The Times published an article reporting on referees abandoning women’s rugby over the competitive advantage enjoyed by trans women.

Referees have been warned not to challenge bearded or heavily muscled athletes on the rugby pitch.

Rugby, being a contact sport like MMA, requires abundant strength, power, and stamina. Men tend to have an incomparable natural advantage over women in sports such as rugby.

Weightlifting

Another controversial figure who drew international attention was Laurel Hubbard who competed for the women’s over-90kg weight class in weightlifting.

Hubbard had competed as a man until his mid-30’s.

In 2017, Hubbard smoked previous world records in the women’s over-90kg masters category, shattering world records in each discipline–clean and jerk, snatch, and total.

Hubbard did it all while weighing a meager 131kg or 289lbs.

USA Powerlifting recently banned all trans competitors in women’s categories.

Track

In June, earlier this year, two male-to-female high school track athletes beat the other contestants by a significant margin, which prompted three Connecticut female athletes to file a federal discrimination complaint.

One of the complainants had the following to say about the inclusion of trans athletes in her sport:

“We all know the outcome of the race before it even starts; it’s demoralizing. I fully support and am happy for these athletes for being true to themselves. They should have the right to express themselves in school, but athletics have always had extra rules to keep the competition fair.”

Aussie Rules Football

Like rugby, Aussie Rules Football, is a brutal high-energy contact sport where there’s a gulf between the difference in physicality of men and women.

Trans Athlete, Hannah Mouncey, rose to prominence in several photos showing Mouncey tower over other competitors with an impressive stature–even for a “cis” male.

The AFLW banned Mouncey from competing in their league after an uproar rung out following Mouncey’s photos circulating the internet.

Mouncey also competed in handball, representing Australia both as a male and female.

Billed at 6’2 and 220lb, Mouncey has a clear size advantage over other female athletes.

Reaction

Most of the reaction from the inclusion of former males in women’s sports has, on the whole, been negative. While some athletes try to be warm and understanding towards trans athletes, they admit the existence of a gaping difference in ability between the sexes.

Many naysayers bring up the safety of female athletes. Men’s sports are played at a faster pace, with harder collisions, greater speed and strength–women’s bodies are less likely to withstand the impacts than their male counterparts.