The Trap Of Swimming's "Open" Category
On Sunday 19th June 2022, world swimming organisation FINA (now World Aquatics) became one of the first to give in to the anti-trans hysteria, and ban trans women from ever competing in women's (which have now become 'female') races. At the time I believed this would either never happen, or would maybe happen once for publicity. From Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) on Twitter, June 19 2022: "This is essentially a ban of trans women from swimming entirely, unless they start transitioning under the age of 12. No Olympics. They'll create a "separate category" which will basically have a single swimmer per race by themselves. This is terrible." With my reply: "Doubt that 'open' category will ever see the light of day. Or maybe they'll do one event for publicity, before shelving it over the optics, competitiveness & the inevitable backlash. But in the end they can ban who they want from their events - maybe it's time to set-up ou...