Transgender athletes achieved a historic 1-2-3 sweep in an elite women’s cycling event, sparking mixed reactions among fans and competitors. While some celebrated the milestone, others were displeased with the outcome.
The event in question was the elite women’s Madison at Washington’s Marymoor Grand Prix on Friday, where each of the two-person teams on the winners’ podium included a transgender athlete.
This marks the first instance of transgender women securing all top three positions in any race at this event, according to the Daily Mail.
Jordan Lothrop, who previously competed against men in the Victoria Cycling League in Canada, proudly stood in first place. Just last year, Jordan was ranked 22nd in the men’s category.
Securing second place was Jenna Lingwood, who transitioned in 2017 and now races with Oregon’s cyclo-cross squad, Team S&M for women. Jenna, a physics graduate from the University of Washington, manages her racing career alongside her job at Intel as a Supply Chain R&D engineer.
The bronze medal was claimed by Eva Lin, a former racer for San Jose State’s men’s team who transitioned in 2022 and now competes on the women’s team.
The sight of the podium sparked controversy online. “This is so egregious I can’t imagine how people watched this happen and thought this was ok,” one person commented.
Another remarked: “There was no Women’s Madison at the Marymoor Grand Prix. If men are racing against women it’s an Open event.”
A third critic added: “Right. Cause that additional FOOT of height, stronger legs, greater lung capacity and increased overall stamina (just to name a few obvious advantages) couldn’t have possibly made a difference…”
The Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome, the venue hosting the race, responded to the backlash by emphasizing their commitment to inclusivity and adherence to USA Cycling rules regarding transgender participation.
“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive track and are following the USA Cycling rules when it comes to transgender participation,” they stated. The venue also asserted that it would not tolerate “bullying or derogatory comments especially related to race, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability.”
Under new rules introduced by USA Cycling in January, transgender athletes competing in top events must undergo “elite athlete fairness evaluations” and prove that their testosterone levels are below a stipulated range. However, amateur-level competitors are only required to complete a self-identity verification request, which is then evaluated by a USA Cycling Technical Director.
The controversy surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to be a contentious issue, with debates often centering around fairness, inclusivity, and the potential physical advantages that transgender women might have.
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