Transgender athletes clinched gold, silver, and bronze medals in the women’s Madison at the Marymore Grand Prix held at the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome in Redmond, Washington.
The race saw every medaling team comprising one transgender athlete and one cisgender female athlete, raising questions about the competitive dynamics. Fans and critics voiced their opinions on social media, highlighting the apparent physical advantages of some competitors.
Jordan Lothrop, part of the gold-winning team, had been competing against men in British Columbia’s Victoria Cycling League as recently as the previous year, where they were ranked 22nd. Silver medalist Jenna Lingwood, who transitioned in 2017, now races with an Oregon-based women’s cyclocross team. Bronze medalist Eva Lin, 28, switched from racing as Henry Lin for San Jose State University’s men’s team to its women’s team in 2022.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the sport’s governing body, has imposed restrictions on transgender athletes who transitioned after male puberty, barring them from international competitions. In response, USA Cycling introduced new rules this January, mandating “elite athlete fairness evaluations” for trans athletes aiming to compete in top-tier events. However, for amateur competitions, only a “self-identity verification request” is required, subject to review by a USA Cycling Technical Director.
Last year, the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships also witnessed controversy when two trans athletes took the top spots in the women’s event, prompting rule changes aimed at ensuring fair competition.
Canda’s April Hutchinson was among the first to put the news on blast.
In a comment to Fox News , Independent Women’s Law Center Director May Mailman responded to the results, saying, “Males accelerate 20% faster and are 30% stronger than women with similar body mass. So this isn’t a competition, it’s a joke. Female athletes are in a tough spot, faced with either turning away from what they’ve worked for or engaging in a hopeless endeavor. To support women, the adults running the show should make women’s sports for women again and stop the madness.”
