A recent situation at Roanoke College in Virginia involving a transgender student’s desire to join the women’s swimming team has sparked controversy about the need for clear guidelines in collegiate sports.
A Complex Scenario
Roanoke College found itself in a difficult situation when a transgender student expressed their wish to join the women’s swimming team after a year of transitioning.
Previously, this student had been a part of the men’s team. Their request led to questions surrounding the principles of fair competition and inclusion, and the women swimmers at Roanoke College found themselves at the center of this dilemma.
They felt abandoned, their concerns largely unaddressed by both the university and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). One of the team captains, Kate Pearson, shared the overwhelming stress they experienced: “We kept getting put in these situations, and it was so stressful… constantly stressed, crying just all the time.”
Advocating for Clarity
The trio of team captains — Kate Pearson, Lily Mullens, and Bailey Gallagher called upon the NCAA and colleges to take proactive measures and establish clear guidelines to navigate the complexities of transgender athletes participating in collegiate sports.
Pearson said, “There should be a blueprint for this kind of thing.” The presence of the transgender student on the women’s swimming team raised concerns about the potential impact on the team’s dynamics and individual performance records.
The athletes’ concerns were rooted in the biological differences present in sports, rather than personal bias.
Challenges Faced
The road to addressing their concerns was fraught with challenges for the team captains. They drafted letters outlining their worries, only to have these letters shared without their consent, leaving them feeling blindsided.
During a meeting with their coach, the athletes encountered a significant diversion from the core issue. The transgender student mentioned feeling suicidal, effectively shifting the discussion away from the central topic.
Furthermore, they were asked to participate in a vote regarding the trans swimmer’s continued participation, an experience they found overwhelming due to pressure to comply.
The Need for Clear Rules
The experiences of these student-athletes underscore the urgent necessity for clear, standardized rules governing the participation of transgender athletes in collegiate sports.
They are now more determined than ever to advocate for the establishment of these rules to ensure fair competition and a level playing field for everyone involved.
Kate Pearson, captain of the sophomore team, expressed her concerns and frustrations stating, “There’s so many ‘grown-ups’ around that should be making these decisions… It was just a hot mess — I was like, what is happening.”
Emotionally Exhausting
Bailey Gallagher, senior captain, summed up the emotional toll this experience took on them: “It was so exhausting — every aspect: emotionally, physically, mentally… It was just the longest month of our entire life.”
Lily Mullens, junior captain, highlighted the unity within the team and their determination to voice their concerns saying, “Our coach had even said to us that he had never seen our team so unified on one thing … It was a very open conversation.”
Personally Supportive
The team captains repeatedly emphasized that their concerns were not personal but centered on ensuring a fair and level competitive environment. Pearson explained, “We support you as a human being, as a person. But when it comes to swimming and competition, there are just too many biological differences, basically.”
Gallagher recounted a disheartening moment when their coach suggested that he could coach a team of one, implying that the trans athlete could stay while the rest of the women’s team left. Pearson described it as “a big stab in the chest for all.”
How the Team Felt
In a crucial face-to-face meeting that was supposed to address their concerns, the athletes found their coach’s response deeply inadequate.
Pearson described the meeting, saying, “I was giving how the whole women’s team felt, like: we support you, this person. But when it comes to the athletic side of things, we just think it’s biologically unfair. And we were giving true statistics.”
“It’s Just So Defeating”
They were further disheartened when they were asked to vote on the trans swimmer’s continued participation.
Gallagher questioned the fairness of the process, saying, “It’s just so defeating. It’s like, why would we even jump into the pool, and even try to compete against this person? Because we know our best will never compete with their best, right?”
Future Athletes
The women swimmers’ determination to advocate for clear rules and guidelines was solidified through their experiences. They recognized the broader implications and their responsibility to future athletes facing similar situations.
Mullens eloquently stated, “Because the way I think about it is what happens when I’m a few years older, and I have a daughter, I put her into a sport and the same situation happens to her? I would only be thinking to myself: you had a chance to speak up and what did you do? You sat down?”
The post “It Was Just a Hot Mess” – Women’s Swim Team Forced to Vote on Trans Swimmer first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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