According to recent statistics, transgender runner Sadie Schreiner has dominated in women’s Division III track and field events, winning three major races over the weekend. However, what many people fail to realize is that if Schreiner were to compete in men’s divisions, his times would have placed him at the bottom of the rankings.
Competing for the Rochester Institute of Technology, Schreiner clocked in at 55.07 seconds in the 400 meters and 24.14 seconds in the 200 meters. While impressive for women’s events, these times would have placed Schreiner last in the men’s divisions. In fact, his time in the 100-meter race as a male in high school would have only ranked him 20th.
Schreiner, who was born Camden Schreiner and competed as a boy in high school, insists that he has no “automatic advantage” due to his biology. He claims that trans inclusion in athletics should not be a debate and that more research needs to be done on the topic. However, several studies have shown that even with hormone therapies, transgender women still maintain physical advantages over women.
One study published in Sports Medicine found that transgender women have a 10-50% advantage over women in sports, regardless of their testosterone levels. This is due to factors beyond just hormones, such as muscle mass and strength. Another study found that male-to-female transgender individuals still have an advantage in strength and size even after a year of gender-affirming treatment.
Despite this evidence, Schreiner maintains that policies are unfairly changing and that the only way to make an informed decision is to talk to trans athletes and hear their stories. But shouldn’t the voices of all female athletes be heard as well? Shouldn’t they have a say in whether or not they are comfortable competing against individuals who were assigned male at birth and have had advantages throughout their development as athletes?
Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines took to social media to call out the NCAA for Schreiner’s success as a female track star. But the issue goes beyond just one athlete – this is an ongoing debate in the world of sports. Women have fought for decades to have their own divisions and be able to compete fairly against other women. Allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports not only undermines those efforts, but it also puts women at a disadvantage.
By allowing males to compete in women’s sports, the integrity of women’s athletics is compromised. Years of hard work and training could be overshadowed by a male who has a natural advantage in strength and speed. This not only affects the sport itself, but it also impacts the opportunities and scholarships available to female athletes.
WATCH
Sadie Schreiner, male competing with the women, won the women's 200 & 400m today at the Liberty League championship meet. He broke the 400m women's record in the process
He would've finished last amongst the other boys by 2 full seconds
This is exactly why we're suing the @NCAA pic.twitter.com/1FIv1DMmib
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 4, 2024
It is unfair and unjust to force women to compete against men in their own sports. Gender identity does not change the biological and physical differences between males and females.
It is time for sports organizations to reconsider their policies and prioritize fair competition for all athletes, regardless of their gender identity. Women have fought too long and too hard to be able to compete on an even playing field, and it is up to us to ensure that their efforts are not in vain.