A 67-year-old transgender woman has sparked a new wave of debate after staging a topless protest during a swimming competition — taking a silent stand against what she calls a discriminatory policy.
In swimming pools, on racetracks, and across podiums around the world, a fierce debate is gaining momentum — and it’s no longer just about who wins or loses. It’s about who gets to compete in the first place.
As more transgender athletes step into the spotlight, sports organizations are scrambling to redefine fairness. Are trans women dominating female categories due to biological advantage? Or are they being unfairly sidelined by policies rooted in fear rather than science?
The conversation hit a boiling point in England recently.
Anne Isabella Coombes, who fully transitioned in her 60s, previously swam in women’s categories. But in 2023, Swim England ruled that she — and other trans female athletes — would no longer be allowed to compete alongside cisgender women. Instead, they’d be placed in a newly designated “open” category that includes trans women, nonbinary people, and cis men.
So during the Cornwall County Masters swimming competition, Coombes made her protest loud and clear — without saying a word.
Wearing a men’s swimsuit with her breasts exposed, Coombes dove into the pool to compete, hoping to draw attention to what she sees as a flawed and unfair policy.
According to USA Today, a similar silent protest had never been staged in UK swimming — and it’s made international headlines.
“This policy isn’t thought through”
Coombes, from Reading, England, began transitioning during the COVID lockdown at the age of 62. She had swum competitively in the women’s category during 2022 and 2023, even placing second in a major event.
“The woman who came first was a whole length ahead of me. She broke the European record; she’s an excellent swimmer,” Coombes told the Reading Chronicle.
“I’m trying to emphasise that this is not a trans person coming in and nicking places from other people,” she added.
However, with Swim England’s policy shift, that all changed. The governing body said the updated rules were designed to “negate post-puberty transgender females’ biological level of performance advantage post-transition.”
When Coombes asked what swimsuit she should wear in the new ‘open’ category, the answer stunned her.
“They confirmed that I need to wear a female swimming costume despite having to compete with the men, which ‘outs’ me as a woman who is transgender,” she explained.
“I explained to the person on the phone that they are not allowed to do that, and he didn’t have an answer.”
“Trans people are not a threat when it comes to sports”
After taking a break from competition, Coombes chose to return — this time as a protestor.
“I decided to protest now to show the world that this policy isn’t thought through, and it’s meant to hit trans people and nobody else,” she said.
“There are many who say I should only compete against men because I have a man’s advantage, and that just isn’t the case. I want to make it clear through this protest that trans people are not a threat when it comes to sport.”
Swim England has since responded, saying that moving forward, any decision about whether Coombes’ swimwear is “in good moral taste” will be left up to the referee. If not, she could be disqualified.
Many have praised Anne Isabella Coombes for her bold and thought-provoking protest, saying it struck a powerful chord in the ongoing fight for trans rights in sports. One commenter put it bluntly:
”All us trans women should walk around topless if they call us men”
”They forced her to swim against males and had the audacity to tell her she needed to wear a womens swimsuit. YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS,” another shared.
”10 out 10 for this masterclass in protest. Great work Anne!,” a third chimed in.
While many praised Anne Coombes for her bold protest, others questioned whether it went too far or missed the point entirely.
”So she wanted to cheat, but they wouldn’t let her? Sounds reasonable to me…,” said one person.
A bigger legal battle in the background
This comes in the wake of a ruling by the UK’s highest court that legally defines “woman” as a person born biologically female — a decision that’s been heavily criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates.
The wider issue continues to divide public opinion, with critics arguing trans women have physical advantages, and supporters pointing out that trans athletes face unique challenges and discrimination.
Sports scientist Joanna Harper, who is also a transgender woman, told the BBC:
“The question isn’t ‘Do trans women have advantages?’ but instead, ‘Can trans women and women compete against one another in meaningful competition?’ Truthfully, the answer isn’t definitive yet.”
Harper compared it to left-handed athletes in fencing:
“40% of elite fencers are left-handed versus 10% of the population is left-handed. But right-handed fencers and left-handed fencers can engage in meaningful competition despite the advantages that left-handed fencers have.”
With the debate heating up across the UK and beyond, Coombes’ protest has added a powerful new image to the conversation — one that’s now being shared widely across the internet. What do you think about this?
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