A mother tearfully spoke out in defense of her daughter’s college swim team on Thursday during a press conference addressing the turmoil that ensued when a male athlete attempted to join the team in September. The Independent Women’s Forum hosted the conference, where former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and members of the Roanoke College women’s swim team shared their experiences with the male addition and the impact it had on the team. The mother described how she barely recognized her daughter after a few weeks at school, with her once confident and determined demeanor now replaced by defeat and resignation.
She went on to express her shock that swimming and sports, activities meant to empower and uplift young women, were now teaching them to be silent and accept competing with men. It was never something they could have imagined and it had robbed the girls of their confidence and drive. The mother’s heart-wrenching testimony shed light on the devastating effects of a male’s inclusion on a women’s sports team.
The female swimmers on the Roanoke team each took turns sharing their experiences of having to swim alongside a male athlete. They described feeling powerless and ignored when they tried to voice their concerns about the unfairness of the situation. As one of the team captains, Kate Pearson, pointed out, even if the entire team had decided to take a stand and refuse to swim, their coach had the power to select one athlete to compete, rendering their protest pointless. It was a disheartening realization for the female athletes who were being pushed aside for the sake of political correctness.
The girls called upon the government and the NCAA to take action and protect women in sports by implementing policies that prevent men from competing on women’s teams. They urged for a change in the current system that is failing to recognize the physical advantages that men have over women in sports. It’s a matter of fairness and allowing girls to compete on a level playing field without having to face the insurmountable physical differences between men and women.
Unfortunately, Roanoke College chose to prioritize the “woke agenda” over the well-being and rights of their female athletes. The Board of Trustees met in response to the controversy and came to the decision to adopt the NCAA policy, which allows for transgender athletes to participate based on the determination of the national governing body for each individual sport. This ultimately led to the male athlete being allowed to join the women’s swim team and left the female athletes feeling unheard and disregarded.
The NCAA’s policy, which was used to justify the male’s inclusion on the women’s team, is inherently flawed. It disregards any biological differences between men and women and creates an unfair playing field for female athletes who have trained and competed their entire lives in their respective sports. The woke agenda is not only diminishing the integrity of women’s sports, but it is also sending a dangerous message to young girls that their efforts and hard work may be rendered meaningless by the inclusion of males.
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Live stream now for those interested— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) October 5, 2023
It’s time to prioritize the rights and well-being of female athletes and put an end to the forced integration of men into women’s sports. Let’s empower young girls by allowing them to compete on a fair and level playing field.