Germany to host swimming’s first ‘open category’ races for transgender athletes

The world’s first transgender swimming race will take place in coming weeks in a groundbreaking move from World Aquatics.

Germany has agreed to stage the world’s first official test event for transgender swimmers in seven weeks.

The groundbreaking “open category” races will take place in Berlin from October 6-8 as part of the final round of the three-leg World Cup series.

Although nominations remain open, it is expected that some of Australia’s best-known swimmers will travel to Europe to race in the World Cup series as part of their early preparations for next year’s Paris Olympics.

World Aquatics – swimming’s global governing body – said it will hold ‘open category’ races over 50m and 100m in all strokes at the last leg in Berlin.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas receives her award at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships last year. Picture: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

At this stage, officials are unsure how many competitors – both from abroad and Australia – will enter the open division, which will enable swimmers to compete regardless of their sex, their legal gender or their gender identity.

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

Unsure how the ‘open’ category would play out, 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 trial event.

“When World Aquatics instituted its policy on eligibility for the men’s and women‘s competition categories, we committed to exploring the creation of an open category,” World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam said.

“True to our word, a team of experts has diligently worked to make this a reality. I would like to thank all those who have helped World Aquatics to deliver this opportunity.”