The sports world is once again grappling with controversy as Ana C. Caldas, a male athlete competing in the women’s divisions across multiple sports, continues to rack up world records, prize money, and championship titles — often at the direct expense of female competitors.
On April 25, 2025, Caldas, formerly known as Hugo Caldas, took first place in the women’s 50-yard breaststroke at the U.S. Masters Spring National Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Caldas, competing in the 45-49 age bracket, didn’t stop there — entering several other women’s events scheduled across the weekend, including the 100-yard IM, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, and the 100-yard freestyle.
Far from an isolated incident, Caldas has a lengthy history of competing — and winning — in women’s events. Originally from Portugal, Caldas first participated in swimming competitions in Scotland as “Hugo” before relocating to the U.S. to finish graduate studies. There, while working as an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Wake Forest, Caldas began competing in women’s divisions under the name “Hannah” and later changed names again to Ana Do Carmo Caldas, notably taking the same first name as his sister.
In 2012, Caldas attempted to qualify for the Portugal women’s Olympic swim team, narrowly missing the Olympic standard by a mere 0.3 seconds. Despite missing the Olympics, the competitive success in women’s divisions soon skyrocketed.
Caldas’ accolades in U.S. Masters Swimming alone are extensive: holding 7 individual national records and 6 relay records at various points, earning 7 All-American honors, and a USMS Pool All-Star title multiple times between 2010 and 2012. Today, Caldas still holds 1 individual and 2 relay national records, along with a staggering 37 masters state records in Arizona and North Carolina.
The momentum didn’t slow internationally either. In March 2024, Caldas claimed the women’s 45-49 100-meter freestyle world title at the World Aquatics Masters World Championships in Doha. Then, in October 2024, he dominated the South American Masters Championships, setting 6 new South American women’s records and grabbing six medals across individual and mixed events — even setting a new FINA master’s world record in the 160-199 mixed 200m freestyle relay.
But swimming isn’t Caldas’ only arena.
He has also been heavily involved in CrossFit and indoor rowing competitions, again choosing to compete against women. In 2021, at the World Rowing Indoor Championships, Caldas took first place in the women’s open 500 meters, tying a world record previously set by Ukraine’s Olympic rower Olena Buryak. He has since set additional women’s masters records in rowing as well.
In the CrossFit community, Caldas became something of an international figure, referred to by some as the “Queen of CrossFit.” Notable achievements include first-place finishes at major events like the 2016 Adriatic Throwdown in Croatia, the 2016 Southfit Challenge in Argentina, and the 2014 Aphrodite Games in Cyprus. Caldas also claimed 3rd place at the 2017 TYR Wodapalooza Fitness Festival (W30-35 category) and placed as high as 8th at the 2018 CrossFit Games in the women’s 40-44 category, representing Portugal as the flag bearer. In 2021, he finished 7th at the CrossFit Games in the same women’s age category.
In one telling moment from 2014, after finishing second at the CPCF Battle of the East competition and winning $3,000 in prize money intended for female athletes, Caldas took to Instagram to criticize the event’s judging, ironically complaining about the fairness of the competition.
Adding to the list, Caldas was also drafted into the Baltimore Anthem team in the 2015 Grid League — a professional weightlifting competition — taking one of only 10 available female roster spots.
With more than a decade of competing — and often dominating — in women’s sports categories across three major sports, many are now questioning how Ana C. Caldas has been able to operate largely under the radar. Critics are directing pointed questions at organizations like CrossFit Games, U.S. Masters Swimming, and US Rowing: Will they continue to allow this pattern to persist? How many more titles, records, and prizes must female athletes sacrifice before real action is taken?
Hecheated.org was the first to report on the details of Caldas’ ‘athletic’ journey.
🚨Breaking🚨
4/25 – A male athlete has taken 1st in the women’s 50 yard breast stroke at the U.S. Masters Spring National Championships.
Earlier today, Ana C. Caldas (formerly Hugo Caldas) took first in the 45-49 masters category of the women’s breast stroke at the U.S. Masters… pic.twitter.com/fO3YwwzUhB
— HeCheated.org (@hecheateddotorg) April 26, 2025
