World Aquatics to hold transgender swimming event in 2023

An ‘open’ category competition would go ahead in 2023, enabling swimmers to compete regardless of their sex, their legal gender or their gender identity.

A world-first test event that will include transgender swimmers will take place later this year, it was confirmed on Tuesday.

As revealed by this masthead, the details of exactly where and when the groundbreaking competition will happen remain under wraps for now.

But re-elected World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam announced that an ‘open’ category competition would go ahead in 2023, enabling swimmers to compete regardless of their sex, their legal gender or their gender identity.

“This is a very complex topic but I am delighted to tell you today that we are now making plans for the first trial of an open category,” Al-Musallam told the World Aquatics Congress in Fukuoka, Japan.

“And we hope to be able to confirm all the details soon. Our sport must be for everybody.”

The first major international sport to ban trans competitors from competing in elite women’s events, including the Olympics and world championships, World Aquatics has also promised to create a world-first ‘open’ division that is inclusive to swimmers who are not eligible for the female category.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas (2nd L) dominated US college competition upon transitioning. Picture: AFP

Because trans sports is such a politically divisive issue, most other sports have been reluctant to take the plunge themselves, opting instead to sit back and watch how swimming navigates its way through the murkiest debate in sport.

Swimming’s leaders have been both applauded and criticised for their stance, but they have pushed ahead regardless, saying they need to protect women swimmers.

One of the problems World Aquatics faces is how the ‘open’ category will work, so they set up a working group, which includes scientists, human rights advocates, lawyers and athletes, to come up with recommendations.

The first of these is the announcement of a trial event.

“We have protected the rights of our female athletes by creating an Inclusion Policy that has become the template which many other Federations are following,“ Al-Musallam told the Congress, which included representatives from Swimming Australia.

“But of course there is still so much more to do.

“It was very important that we protected fair competition for our female athletes, but you have heard me say many times that there should be no discrimination.

“Nobody should be excluded from our competitions. This is why I announced last year that I would set up a committee to look at the best way to implement an open category.

“The committee’s work is not finished. They are doing an excellent job, and I am very grateful for that.”

Originally published as World Aquatics to hold transgender swimming event in 2023