Rachel McKinnon becomes first transgender woman to win track world title

Dr Rachel McKinnon has become the first transgender 
track world champion (Image: Twitter/ Rachel McKinnon)
Commentary: 
The complicated case of transgender cyclist Dr. Rachel McKinnon
Η συζήτηση για τον πρώτο παγκόσμιο πρωταθλητή των τρανσέξουαλ 
δεν μπορεί να επιλυθεί, αλλά μπορεί να γίνει καλύτερα κατανοητή.

This past weekend Dr. Rachel McKinnon won the masters world championship 
in the match sprint in the women’s 35-44-year-old age category. 
The victory carried historical significance: Dr. McKinnon is a transgender woman, and her victory is the first world title by a trans athlete in track 
cycling (Michelle Dumaresq won a downhill mountain biking masters world 
title in 2006).
- The current rules and research
   Οι ισχύοντες κανόνες και έρευνα
- Pushback from female racers
 Πίσω από τις γυναίκες δρομείς
- Dr. McKinnon’s race results
Ο αγώνας του Δρ McKinnon είναι αποτέλεσμα
- The ethics of transgender participation
- Η ηθική της συμμετοχής των τρανσέξουαλ
[...]  
Now, imagine a young girl who was born into a male’s body. 
At some point in her life, she transitions to become female, yet elements 
of her male anatomy remain. Should this young girl pursue a sport like gymnastics or the pole vault, her physiology may hold her back. 
Nobody will raise concerns over unfair advantages, should she pursue 
these sports. But, what if this girl chooses cycling or weightlifting or some 
other sport where here unique physiology 
gives her a competitive advantage?
Is her anatomy something to be looked at the same way society views 
the tall girl’s height? Or, is it something to be punished? https://www.velonews.com/2018/10/news/commentary-the-complicated-case-of
-transgender-cyclist-dr-rachel-mckinnon_480285

Rachel McKinnon has entered the history books 
as the first transgender woman to win a cycling world title.
McKinnon, who races both on the track and the road, won the women’s 
35-44 sprint during the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships 
in Los Angeles on Sunday.
*Dr Rachel McKinnon was born a biological male but identifies as a trans 
woman and is a campaigner for trans rights.
Many have congratulated the Canadian, who is also an assistant professor 
of philosophy, on her win but the victory has also prompted negative 
response from some.
~
McKinnon posted on Twitter after the win: “This is what the double bind for trans women looks like: when we win, it’s because we’re transgender and 
it’s unfair.
~
“When we lose, no one notices (and it’s because we’re just not that good anyway). Even when it’s the same racer.
“That’s what transphobia looks like.”
~
Replying to a tweet by Katie Hopkins, runner up Jennifer Wagner said: 
“I was the third place rider.
“It’s definitely not fair.”
McKinnon added that Wagner had beaten her in 10 of their last 12 races, including the 500-metre time trial earlier in the week.
Transgender athletes have been allowed to compete in the Olympics 
since 2004 but under the requirement they had undergone gender 
confirmation surgery and been on hormone therapy for two years.
In 2015, these rules were relaxed to remove the need for surgery and the athletes must have a testosterone level below a certain limit for at least 12 months prior to their first competition.
Athletes who transition from female to male are allowed to enter in male competition without restriction.
But transgender athletes are due to face tighter restrictions by the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as the maximum level of testosterone allowed will be halved.
A study by Loughbough University academics was carried out after the Rio 2016 Olympics after concerns about transgender athletes having an advantage.
After reviewing 31 national and international transgender sporting policies, including those of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association, the study concluded that a majority unfairly discriminated against transgender people, especially trans women.
The researchers said that there is no evidence that transgender women have a sporting advantage over athletes born female.
PhD student Beth Jones, who was involved in the study, said: “Our research has also shown that these stringent and unfair policies have a negative impact on transgender people’s experiences of sport and physical activity, even when the activity is engaged in at a recreational level, such as considering joining a local football team or going to the gym.”
The researchers suggested that if size or strength of competitors is a concern, different sporting categories not based on gender should be considered.
- https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/rachel-mckinnon-becomes
-first-transgender-woman-win-track-world-title-397473
- http://www.rachelmckinnon.com/about.html
- http://www.rachelmckinnon.com/