Fina’s historic decision has also drawn criticism. The policy change has been criticized by trans advocacy groups, with swimmer Maddie Groves describing it as “biased and unscientific”. At the World Championships in Budapest on Monday, 71% of the 152 national federations of the world governing body voted in favor of the proposed new rules stating that transgender athletes can now compete only in the women’s category, provided they had no experience. parts of male adolescence. She also pledged to set up a working group to create an “open” category for trans women who do not meet the new criteria to compete as women. Prior to the vote, Fina had heard from scientists, lawyers and elite athletes, including Campbell. Campbell, in her speech, said she believes in integration and considered moving to Australia from Malawi at the age of nine. The four-time Olympic gold medalist said she wants trans people and people of the opposite sex to “be part of the wider swimming community”. In the end, however, she said that the struggle of women to be “included and considered equal in sport” was possible only because of gender discrimination and that its abolition “would be to the detriment of athletes everywhere”. “We see you, we appreciate you and we accept you,” Campbell told the conference. “My role, however, is also to stand up here, as I have asked our global governing body, Fina, to explore, think about and support the cornerstone of justice in the elite women’s competition. “And it hurts me that this part of my role can hurt, anger and possibly alienate people from an already marginalized trans community. “Believe me, I have fought hard and hard with myself, with what to say and do. I know that my actions and words, no matter what I say, will anger some people – whether they are from the community or the female cisgender community. “However, I ask everyone to take a breath, to be absorbed before reacting. Listen to science and experts. “Listen to the people who stand here and tell you how difficult it was to reconcile integration and justice.” “The fact that men and women are physiologically different can not be disputed. We are only now beginning to explore and understand the origins of these physiological differences and the permanent effects of exposure to different hormones. “Women, who have fought hard and hard to be included and considered equal in sports, can only do so because of gender discrimination. “The abolition of this discrimination would be to the detriment of athletes everywhere.” Madeline Groves, a double silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics, called Fina’s ban “biased and unscientific.” Photo: Odd Andersen / AFP / Getty Images Groves tweeted her views Monday, quoting in part the end of Campbell’s speech, saying: “I also hope a young kid of the opposite sex can join a swimming club and feel the same level of acceptance as a nine-year-old An old immigrant from Africa did all these years ago “. Groves replied: “So you are forbidding them to compete with their peers? Are you okay with expelling an already marginalized group? Real acceptance. “There are already people of different races in swimming and I guess they do not feel very acceptable [right now]. Shame on all those who supported this discriminatory and unscientific decision. “ Just.Equal, an LGBTIQ lobby, defense and campaign group, called on Fina to “reconsider the decision”. “The decision to isolate trans women in their own lane in the pool essentially means that they can not compete at the elite level because they will be competing with themselves,” said Just.Equal’s consultant Sally Goldner. “We are questioning a process that was undertaken in secret and we ask if the trans people were consulted about their lives or if this decision was imposed on us without consultation.” Instead, Swimming Australia praised Fina for its “holistic” policy-making process, the clarity it provides with all Fina-recognized races and world records, and its commitment to creating an open racing category. “Swimming Australia supports a competitive environment that is fair and equitable for all high-performance athletes and we believe this new policy reflects this position,” she said in a statement. “We also firmly believe in the participation and opportunity for all athletes to experience the sport of swimming in a way that is consistent with their identity and expression. It is both our responsibility and our commitment to continue to learn and educate ourselves for the proper balance in this area. “ Seebohm, meanwhile, was “just grateful we finally made a decision.” “We have a direction,” he told Nine Network. “We do not say no to trans athletes, we say yes, we will make a class for you.” Seebohm said swimmers found it difficult to speak in public about “such a difficult subject”. “Because you’re afraid of the culture of cancellation, right? It’s something like that now. “If you say something wrong, you’re done,” he said. I think it was an issue when an Australian athlete said something like ‘let’s get up’. We all feel the same, we were just too scared to be the first to say anything. “ The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, offered tacit support and criticized the Coalition’s handling of the debate on trans women in sport in the recent elections. “That’s one of the reasons why … there should not have been an attempt to make this a political issue during the last federal election campaign,” Albanese said. “The guidelines are very clear that it is up to the sports bodies. They will make their decisions based on their evaluations and that is appropriate. “We must not use vulnerable people, put them in a situation where one side or any side of politics is trying to pursue a political advantage over it.”
