A male athlete identifying as female swept multiple events in the women’s division at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, sparking renewed scrutiny over fairness in women’s sports.
Competing under the name Ana Caldas, the swimmer—previously known as Hugo Caldas—won five individual events and participated in three relays in the 45-49 age group. Caldas placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, and 100-yard breaststroke, finishing several seconds ahead of female competitors in each race.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) criticized U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) for allowing Caldas to compete in the women’s division. ICONS argued that USMS’s policy—which permits trans-identifying males to compete if they have undergone at least one year of hormone therapy and maintain testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L—is insufficient to eliminate male physiological advantages. In a letter to USMS, ICONS stated, “There is no length of time during which testosterone suppression eliminates male advantage; therefore it should not serve as a guideline permitting men to compete in women’s swimming”.
Caldas has a history of competing in women’s sports under various names, including Hannah Caldas, and has been affiliated with academic institutions such as Wake Forest University. Records indicate that Caldas has co-authored research papers and applied for patents using both male and female names, raising questions about transparency in competition.
Critics argue that Caldas’s participation undermines the integrity of women’s sports. Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines commented, “A man who goes by the name Ana swam five events at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship. He won them all. Real life South Park episode”.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates over the inclusion of trans-identifying males in women’s sports and the effectiveness of current policies in ensuring fair competition.
