At the recent Chicago CycloCross Cup, male transgender-identified cyclists Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson won gold and silver medals in the women’s SingleSpeed race, intensifying the debate surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports.
Twenty-five-year-old Johnson stood at the top of the podium, with Williamson, 30, taking the second position.
Their performance left only Allison Zmuda, a biological female, securing the bronze.
Both Johnson and Williamson have been subjects of attention after dominating several women’s races earlier this year.
Aside from their recent victory, Johnson also triumphed in the women’s Cat Half, taking home $150 in prize money, while Williamson secured a fourth position and a prize of $75, The Daily Mail reports.
The two-day event at Jackson Park in Chicago, held from October 7 to 8, comprised various competitions catering to men, women, and juniors.
Chicago CrossCup’s official statement highlighted their commitment to transgender ideology.
“The CCC has always been first and foremost about fostering a positive & supportive community built around competitive CycloCross racing,” they noted on their website.
Any form of “discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, sportsball team affiliation, or any other stupid idea someone comes up with to belittle others will not be tolerated.”
Earlier in August, the two made waves by winning the Racing-Athletic Relay Cross in Chicago under the team name ‘TS-ESTRODOLLS,’ a nod to the female hormone estrogen.
Their journey in the sport showcases varied experiences.
Williamson, for example, has been actively competing in the women’s category since 2017 and has won 18 titles.
In March 2020, the biological male participated in both men’s and women’s categories at the Sky Express Winter Criterium, clinching a victory against female competitors.
Johnson, on the other hand, had previously raced in men’s categories during their time with Clemson University.
The topic took a more personal turn when rumors spread about Williamson’s romantic involvement in a “throuple” with fellow transgender cyclist Austin Killips and an unidentified third party.
Killips recently came under fire after an incident with female CycloCross champion Hannah Arensman.
Recounting the event, Arensman stated: “I fully expect that in cycling, as a full-body contact sport, you’re going to get hit at some point. But when you have someone born a man run into you, over 6ft tall, it’s quite different. That one instance caught on video felt unnecessary, though.”
This event, coupled with her loss of a podium position to a transgender athlete, led to Arensman’s decision to exit the sport, Daily Mail notes.
“A guy, even if mediocre in the men’s field, is more than capable of breaking records and making podiums in women’s races,” she added. “This is not fair sport, and the governing bodies, who should have made the rules at the beginning, need to realize it. The very people who should be protecting our sport are not doing so.”
The inclusion of transgender competitors remains a hot topic across various sports, both at college and professional levels.
Critics argue that transgender women, especially those who’ve undergone male puberty, retain significant biological advantages over biological women, regardless of surgeries or hormone treatments.
