It’s estimated that more than 50 male-born athletes are active in women’s competitive cycling, but as far as cyclist Austin Killips is concerned, that isn’t enough.
Killips, a biological male who identifies as female and competes in the women’s division, took issue with critics of transgender athletes, arguing that such competitors are actually “statistically underrepresented” in sports.
“It’s certainly concerning that the nature of the discourse, the amount of energy that has gone into building this narrative would lead you to believe that there’s this massive number of trans athletes participating in sports and winning all the time, when the reality is that we’re statistically underrepresented,” Killips told the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The transgender cyclist’s comments came after finishing ninth Sunday in the Women’s Elite Pro Road race at the USA Cycling Pro Road championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Killips became the first male-born cyclist to win a Union Cycliste Internationale women’s stage race by taking first place April 30 at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, prompting a backlash from advocates of single-sex sports.
The 27-year-old Killips is one of at least 50 male-to-female-transgender athletes active in women’s cycling, based on a count cited by the Independent Women’s Forum, but the Tour of the Gila victory made Killips the face of the fairness-versus-inclusion debate in cycling.
SEE ALSO: Transgender cyclist’s win fuels backlash over rise of male-born athletes racing with women
Killips defended male-to-female transgender athletes participating in the women’s division, saying that most were “just normal competitors.”
“By the number, some of us do well, a lot of us do just fine, are just normal competitors,” Killips said. “If the rules say trans people can play, then it doesn’t mean that we can’t win.”
Disagreeing with Killips was Jennifer C. Braceras, director of the Independent Women’s Law Center, who called the rise of male-to-female transgender athletes in female sports “one of the most underreported stories out there.”
“The number of biological males taking athletic opportunities from female athletes is growing by the day,” she said. “But even if only one female athlete loses a spot on a team or a place on the podium to a male, that is one too many. And the refusal of the men who run athletic associations to recognize this as discrimination is misogynistic and unacceptable.”
The Independent Women’s Forum held an “Our Bodies, Our Sports” rally Sunday outside the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to protest Killips’ participation as well as UCI and USA Cycling rules “allowing male competitors in the women’s division.”
“There’s no equity, fairness, sportsmanship, or opportunity for women to succeed at an elite level without sex-based categories,” said 12-time All-American swimmer Riley Gaines. “Allowing male athletes like Austin Killips to compete in the women’s category is an infringement on female cyclists.”
UCI initially defended its rules on transgender participation after Killips’ victory in New Mexico, but said a week later that its management committee would be “reopening” the issue by consulting with athletes and the national federations.
“The UCI’s objective remains the same: to take into consideration, in the context of the evolution of our society, the desire of transgender athletes to practise cycling,” the May 5 statement said. “The UCI also hears the voices of female athletes and their concerns about an equal playing field for competitors, and will take into account all elements, including the evolution of scientific knowledge.”
Trans identified male cyclist Austin Killips finished in 9th place yesterday in the women’s category during USA Cycling’s Pro Road National Championship a in Knoxville, Tennesse.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 26, 2023
Weeks ago he finished 1st place in the women’s category at a competition in North Carolina.… pic.twitter.com/TAI6PVYsTe
U.S. cyclist Chloe Dygert won Sunday’s race, while Killips finished ninth and “just six seconds behind Dygert after leading the pack for much of the race,” said the IWF in a press release.
The Independent Women’s Network is circulating a petition asking UCI and USA Cycling to “keep women’s cycling female.”
“No amount of testosterone suppression mitigates the advantages of being born male,” U.S. Olympic cyclist Inga Thompson said. “Sports exist on the premise of fairness. There is no fairness or equal opportunity in sports for women if men with gender dysphoria are allowed to compete against women.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.