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- May 16, 2012
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At the same time the Lia Thomas image was of her winning one race, she had mediocre finishes in the other 2 events she competed in. She's a good college swimmer but nowhere close to doing anything on the international stage (certainly not since FINA have banned her and other transwomen). The picture of her would naturally hit you in the gut, and trigger the idea, "this isn't fair" but there's a wider truth and context that goes beyond one photograph.
And there was a photo of the 2 women she beat on the podium looking pissed off that's been doing the rounds. Apparently they've subsequently said that the image isn't entirely representative of what they thing.
I don't think I saw any particular photos. She looks like a swimmer out there giving it a go.
The unfairness is that she won a national championship (can't recall the distance).
She was not even in the top 500 among the men at the time she competed there at the 200m.
FINA came together and revised the eligibility requirements.
And - I could be wrong- but they left the requirements for men's swimming alone.
They stuck to fairness.
That said, you can't blanket it for all sports.
There's shit like motor racing and equestrian stuff, sailing etc. where it clearly doesn't matter.
I know there's a trans man that's a highly competitive speed walker. There are probably lots of sports where biology doesn't trump gender.
But there's shit like sprinting where even the best female on the planet can be beaten by 100s of boys of Leaving Cert age.
Tennis and swimming seem obvious additions to this.
You gotta take it one by one, and try to bring compassion for all into the decision making.
Dunno how easy that is gonna be tho.