Aussie swimming stalwart Emily Seebohm has welcomed FINA‘s landmark decision to restrict transgender swimmers in women’s events, saying the action is the “smartest way” forward.
Members of swimming’s international federation widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” that only permits athletes who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events.
“I’m just thankful that we finally have a decision and a direction we’re going,” Seebohm told Nine’s Today.
READ MORE: Fittler swings the axe for Origin II
READ MORE: Suns’ star stretchered off with ‘horrific’ injury
READ MORE: Aussie hero unleashes record-breaking run
“It’s a decision we were all, I think, hoping for, but we didn’t know if anyone could actually make that decision.
“We’re not saying no to transgender athletes, we’re saying, ‘yes we’re going to make a category for you’.
“It makes it easier for the athletes knowing what’s going on, how the competition is going to look and that the sport can continue to be as fair as it can be and still include everyone.”
The verdict hinged on a majority vote at the organisation’s general congress after hearing presentations from three specialist groups.
Watch the FINA World Championships swimming live and free on 9Gem plus stream every event live on 9Now
“71.5 per cent of people voted this way so, I mean, how can we disagree with this vote?” Seebohm asked.
“From my understanding they had scientists, they had legal people, they had athletes, and they had transgender people in this vote so we have tried to include everything and I think they’ve really done it from a scientific background as much as we have the knowledge.”
The four-time Olympian discussed the sensitivity and controversy around debating transgender and gender-diverse participation in professional sport, saying the repercussions of speaking out can be “scary”.
Referring to fellow golden girl Emma McKeon‘s public stance on the issue, in which Australia’s most decorated Olympian declared racing against biological males isn’t fair, Seebohm said Australia’s female swimmers felt the need to band together.
“I think it was a matter of once one Australian athlete said something, it was like, let’s stand together because we all feel the same it’s just that we were all too scared to be the first one to say anything,” the 30-year-old said.
FINA’s new 24-page policy also includes proposals for a new “open competition” category.
“They are bringing in an open category for athletes who identify in any way. There’s going to be a competition for [transgender athletes] based around everyone else competing as well – the male category, the female category and the open category – I mean you’ve got the Paralympics as well,” Seebohm said.
“They’ve got tons of different categories to include everyone, this is just a new level of inclusion.”
Seebohm acknowledged that this was not the end of the trans-in-sport debate in Australia and sports worldwide and that there was still a long way to go to ensure all groups are satisfied.
“I think there’s going to be people who will be upset with this decision but this decision was made by a majority of people,” she said.
“This is going to be a snowball effect, we are one of the first sports to make a decision.
“What’s going to happen with every other sport? What are they going to do? Are they going to do it different, or are we all going to be the same? Who knows.”
The announcement aligns with the World Swimming Championships which is currently underway in Budapest.
Australia remains in second spot on the medal tally after medals from Kaylee McKeown, Elijah Winnington and the women’s 4x100m freestyle team in the opening two days of competition.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!