The sport scene was once again the scene of controversy this week after the conservative American commentatorCandace Owensmake a statement vehement on social networks requiring the immediate removal of the transgender swimmerLia Thomasof women’s competitions. In his speech, Owens stated that the participation of trans athletes in female categories represents a direct threat to “equality and justice conquered by women over decades.”
“This is not inclusion, it is erasure. We are seeing the end of female sport fair if we do not act now,” Owens said in a video that quickly viralizing, accumulating millions of views and rekindling the global debate on gender identity and equity in sports.
Lia Thomas, who gained prominence by competing by the University of Pennsylvania and becoming the first trans athlete to win a US National University Championship in the US, has been a central figure in this clash. For many, its trajectory represents inclusion and progress. For others, it symbolizes a supposed competitive injustice caused by biological differences.
The reactions to Owens’s statement were intense and divided.Conservative groups, athletes and commentators for female sportsThey expressed support, arguing that Owens’s appeal is a necessary scream in defense of equity. “We are seeing women lose bags, records and podiums because of a policy that ignores science,” said an Olympic former Nadadora.
On the other hand,LGBTQIA+ Rights Defenders and Diversity OrganizationsThey accused Owens of transphobia and to feed hate speeches. “This kind of marginalizing speech and puts at risk trans athletes that already face huge challenges just to compete,” said a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign.
Meanwhile, the main sports entities, such as the International Olympic Committee and NCAA, continue to discuss adjustments to the inclusion guidelines, trying to balance science, gender identity and sports justice.
So far, Lia Thomas has not publicly responded to Owens’s lines. The episode, however, shows that high performance sport follows as one of the most delicate and controversial fields in gender discussions in the 21st century.
