A concerning situation at the Richmond Hill Aquatic Centre’s Fall Classic swimming competition has been uncovered.
The competition was held at the Markham Pan Am Centre just north of Toronto on October 20, 2023. This event raised serious questions about the boundaries of age and gender in competitive swimming.
During one of the swim races, ten competitors participated, but it became clear that one of these competitors was entirely out of place. While the other nine participants were 13- or 14-year-old girls, the tenth competitor was a 50-year-old biological male who goes by the name Nicholas J. Cepeda or Melody Wiseheart and is a member of the Orangeville Otters Swim Club. The sight of young girls competing against a middle-aged man was both bewildering and concerning.
Rebel News decided to investigate the matter by visiting the Markham Pan Am Centre on October 22, seeking answers from the event organizers. Initially, organizers denied that Nicholas/Melody had participated in the meet, despite the evidence provided in the Friday schedule. Eventually, they acknowledged his participation but refused to engage in a discussion about gender and age, which were fundamental aspects of the competition.
The absence of representatives from the governing bodies of swimming, Swim Ontario and Swim Canada, for comment further raised suspicions. Rebel News had hoped to inquire whether Nicholas was allowed to use the female changing room and bathroom facilities during the event.
This situation is reminiscent of the controversial case of Lia Thomas at Penn State, where a transgender swimmer identified as a female and began winning competitions. It raises questions about fairness in sports.
Notably, Nicholas J. Cepeda/Melody Wiseheart is a professor at York University in Toronto, specializing in areas related to children and youth, a detail that raises concerns about the involvement of “transwomen” in fields connected to children and youth.
The media coverage that Nicholas received via the Caledon Enterprise did not address his participation in the swimming competition alongside minor girls. Instead, it focused on the transgender narrative of breaking stereotypes and stigmas.