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Kate Campbell, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in Australia, backed FINA’s new policies on the participation of transgender athletes on Monday.
In a speech to the FINA Congress, Campbell said that the division of categories by gender in swimming is one of the only reasons why women can be considered equal in sports. She said removing the gap “would be to the detriment of women athletes everywhere”.
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Kate Campbell of the Australian team reacted after winning the gold medal and breaking the Olympic record for the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay on the ninth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Center on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo. Japan. (Al Belo / Getty Images)
“We see you, we appreciate you and we accept you. However, my role is also to stand here, after we asked our global governing body, FINA, to investigate, consider and maintain the cornerstone of justice in the elite women’s race, “she told The Guardian. “And it hurts me that this part of my role can hurt, anger and potentially alienate people from an already marginalized trance community.”
She said she thought about what she was going to say and came to the conclusion that whatever she said on the subject would make people angry.
“However, I ask everyone to take a breath, to take a breath before reacting. Listen to science and experts. Listen to the people who stand here and tell you how difficult it has been to combine inclusion and justice, “she added. “The fact that men and women are physiologically different cannot be disputed. It is only now that we are beginning to explore and understand the origins of these physiological differences and the lasting effects of exposure to various hormones.
FINA MEDICAL OFFICIALLY HOPES TRANSPOL ATHLETES POLICIES TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER SPORTS
Kate Campbell from Australia after being awarded a gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay during the swimming finals at the Tokyo Aquatic Center at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Tim Clayton / Corbis via Getty Images)
“Women who have fought long and hard to be included and treated as equals in sport can only do so because of gender discrimination. Removing this distinction would be to the detriment of women athletes everywhere.
The “gender mainstreaming policy” will only allow swimmers who have passed the age of 12 to compete in women’s competitions. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies. The decisions took effect on Monday.
FINA sets specific eligibility requirements in a 24-page policy. There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy”. The organization said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking for the most effective ways to create this new category”.
The Australian Olympic Committee also supported FINA’s decision.
The logo of the International Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming and Open Water Swimming, FINA was displayed during the FINA World Championships in Rome on July 25, 2009 (MARTIN BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images)
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“While inclusion must be respected, fairness in competition is a core value of the sport,” a spokesman for the Australian Olympic Committee told Reuters. “FINA decided on the basis of swimming circumstances to strike this balance.”
Ryan Gaidos is the sports editor of Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Ryan.Gaydos@fox.com.
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