Martina Navratilova slams Gymnastics Australia for pro trans position

The tennis icon hits out at Gymnastics Australia for a rule change that allows biological males who identify as female to compete in girls’ and women’s events.

Martina Navratilova’s high-profile criticism has put the spotlight on Gymnastics Australia’s position. Picture: AFP

Martina Navratilova has slammed Gymnastics Australia – saying “what is wrong with you guys” for allowing biological males who identify as female, and permitting them access to young girls and women’s changing rooms and competitions.

Navratilova, 66, hit out at the national organisation, which boasts of more than 800,000 participants with one of the highest participation sports for children under 12 – for changing its rules to allow transgender people to self-identify and compete in all community gymnastics events.

The tennis star and commentator’s high-profile criticism has put the spotlight on Gymnastics Australia’s radical position, which is going against the recent trend of international sporting organisations such as track and field, swimming and cycling to reinforce women’s sport on sex, not gender.

She said Gymnastics Australia’s position “just threw females and girls under the bus” and warned “to say this won’t end well is an understatement’’.

On Twitter she posted: ”To say this won’t end well is an understatement. To say Gymnastics Australia just threw females and girls under the bus is an understatement. What is wrong with you guys??? This “inclusion” actually will EXCLUDE biological women and most of all girls. #whataboutthegirls”

To say this won’t end well is an understatement. To say Gymnastics Australia just threw females and girls under the bus is an understatement. What is wrong with you guys??? This “inclusion” actually will EXCLUDE biological women and most of all girls. #whataboutthegirls ??? https://t.co/eZriHAOKsv

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) October 5, 2023

Ms Navratilova has been outspoken in her belief that women’s and girls sport should be confined to biological females.

Gymnastics Australia chief executive Alexandra Ash said the sport’s commitment to transgender and gender diverse people “is that gymnastics is and will continue to be a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background, or ethnicity”.

The policy allowed for competitors to wear whatever uniform they liked, and that in community gymnastics competitions – which is where most schoolchildren compete – individuals would be allowed to participate in the competition they believed best reflected their gender identity.

But Navratilova believes the issue of biological males being able to compete against women and also enter and use female changing rooms heavily discriminates against young girls and women.

In the release announcing the new policy Gymnastics Australia said: “We also want all members to feel celebrated in who they are and see them continue to contribute to the diverse community and legacy of gymnastics as one of Australia’s most popular sports for young people.

“At a community level, engaging more than 800,000 Australians nationwide, gymnastics is one of the highest participation sports for Australians aged under 12 and the sport recognises the need to support and protect young Australians navigating their gender identity in sport.”