BERLIN, GERMANY: An eagerly anticipated "open category" swimming event, designed to accommodate transgender athletes, has been canceled in Germany due to a lack of interest.
The event, initially hailed as a progressive step towards inclusion, was scheduled to take place as part of the Berlin Swimming World Cup. However, days before its commencement on October 6, 2023, the organizers were forced to drop the "open category" event as they received "zero" entries.
"Following the close of registration for the open category competitions at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – the Berlin 2023 meet scheduled for October 6-8th – World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the open category events," the organization said in a statement.
Genesis of 'open category' swimming
According to Fox News, World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), had announced the creation of an "open category" in July, marking a milestone in the world of competitive swimming.
The move was a response to criticisms from LGBTQ activists regarding its "gender inclusion policy" established in 2022.
This policy meant transwomen swimmers could compete in the women's categories only if they had begun their transition before the age of 12.
The cancellation of the event, though disheartening, has not deterred World Aquatics from its commitment to promoting inclusivity. In a statement, the organization affirmed its dedication to developing open category events in the future.
"The World Aquatics Open Category Working Group will continue its work and engagement with the aquatics community on Open Category events," they stated. "Even if there is no current demand at the elite level, the working group is planning to look at the possibility of including Open Category races at Masters events in the future."
The Berlin Swimming World Cup had promised to feature 50-meter and 100-meter races across all strokes in timed trials over two days. Eligible swimmers were required to have an affiliation with a national federation, and they were given the flexibility to participate individually, for their club, team, or as national federation members.
Social media questions trans atheletes who chose not to participate
The cancellation of the event sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many questioning the motives of transgender athletes.
"So, it's not about fairness," one such critic posted on X.
"Never was. They just want that 1st place medal and they don’t care where they get it or who they hurt in the process," another replied.
"But....but....I though they just wanted compete because they loved the sport?" someone else quipped.
"These guys know they can't beat another biological man so they insist on competing against a woman they know they can beat. Shows what poor athletes they really are," a comment read.
"They can't compete when the playing field is level. This is a result of 'everyone gets a trophy' generation," another offered.
The 'Lia Thomas factor'
The focus on transgender athletes coincided with the rising prominence of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who made history by winning a women's championship at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
Thomas' victory ignited a national debate about transgender athletes in sports and drew sharp criticism from some female athletes who felt the playing field was not level.
It is important to note that swimming's international governing body had overwhelmingly voted to approve the gender policy in 2022.
Additionally, the organization proposed an "open completion policy" and established a new working group to explore effective ways of implementing this new category.
This "open category" concept was expanded in August, reflecting the commitment of World Aquatics to foster inclusivity in swimming.
"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 at the time.
"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," he had said.
