'Not fair': Runner-up fumes over transgender world champion
A Canadian transgender athlete has been slammed by a competitor after becoming the first to win a cycling world championship.
Dr. Rachel McKinnon, who was born a male, won gold in the women’s 35-44 age bracket at the UCI Masters track championships in Los Angeles on Sunday.
“First transgender woman world champion…ever*”, she posted on social media alongside a photo on the podium with second- and third-place finishers, Carolien Van Herrikhuyzen of the Netherlands and Jennifer Wagner of the US.
McKinnon’s achievement was lauded by some on social media, given the fact she has to suppress her testosterone levels to what she deems “unhealthily low” levels.
But third-place finisher Wagner led the criticism against McKinnon’s participation in the championships.
“I was the 3rd place rider. It’s definitely NOT fair,” Wagner tweeted in response to controversial British commentator Katie Hopkins.
Hopkins took a huge swipe at the ‘febrile madness’ that allowed McKinnon to compete.
For clarity – this was the WOMENS world championships.
I repeat. Women’s.
Congratulations to the brave faces of silver & bronze. The world is gripped by a febrile madness. pic.twitter.com/P6VkaNFeyy
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) October 14, 2018
I was the 3rd place rider. It’s definitely NOT fair.
— jen wagner-assali (@jkwagnermd) October 15, 2018
Others on social media accused McKinnon of cheating, claiming her competing is unfair to cisgender women.
You're a cheat, is what you are.
— Rev. Stuart Campbell (@RevStu) October 14, 2018
This happened yesterday. A MALE smashed a women's cycling world record and the dreams of all the female competitors. The principle of the level playing field in sport is being made a laughing stock. If you care about women's sport please speak up now @judymurray @Martina @sebcoe pic.twitter.com/XrXwwk4RIs
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) October 14, 2018
Holy crap! You beat a bunch of females, due to genetically endowed features none of them could hope to have, qua members of their kind! pic.twitter.com/kYNyUwMPcn
— Kathleen Stock (@Docstockk) October 14, 2018
McKinnon has since hit out at the criticism, telling velonews.com she enjoyed no physical advantage over her competitors.
“I think there is absolutely no evidence that I have an unfair advantage,” she said.
“People who oppose transgender inclusion in sport put us in the double bind. It’s the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario.
“If I win, they attribute it to me being trans and having an unfair advantage. If I lose, the same people think I must not be good anyway. People will never attribute my winning to hard work which is what I think I deserve.”
A post shared by Rachel McKinnon, PhD (@rachelvmckinnon) on Oct 12, 2018 at 1:09pm PDT
McKinnon, an assistant professor at the College of Charleston Department of Philosophy who studies transgender issues, posted a lecture she presented entitled, “Including Trans Women Athletes in Sport”, in rebuttal to those citing the ethics and fairness of her being allowed to compete.
In an article in USA Today in January, she argued her competing is not a question of athletic advantage, but one of human rights.
“We cannot have a woman legally recognised as a trans woman in society, and not be recognised that way in sports,” McKinnon was quoted as saying.
“Focusing on performance advantage is largely irrelevant because this is a rights issue. We shouldn’t be worried about trans people taking over the Olympics. We should be worried about their fairness and human rights instead.”
Lots of transphobic bigots are responding to my world championship win saying that 'Next up, the paralympics.' Hey women, you realize that ALL of these people (many of them women) are comparing you to disabled people…right? Women = 'disabled men' they think. Wow. Offensive. pic.twitter.com/K5cbZgaOMc
— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 14, 2018
Still waiting for the transphobic bigots to point to a rule I broke. https://t.co/Snp3mSi8Pb
— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 14, 2018
Funny how all these people are speaking for my competitors. 2nd place is a FRIEND and is extremely supportive of me. So you transphobic bigots are objectifying real humans who aren't bigoted like you. https://t.co/X3lOBivvNU
— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 14, 2018