The Berlin Swimming World Cup is set to make history by introducing an “open category” to accommodate transgender swimmers, according to World Aquatics. Last year, World Aquatics faced criticism for essentially prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in their identified gender. However, they announced their plans to establish an “open category” and now, it will finally debut on October 6-8.
The creation of the “open category” reflects World Aquatics’ commitment to inclusivity. President Husain Al-Musallam expressed gratitude to the experts who worked diligently to make this opportunity a reality. This move aligns with World Aquatics’ Policy on Eligibility for the Men’s and Women’s Competition Categories.
The open category at the Berlin Swimming World Cup will feature 50-meter and 100-meter races across all swimming strokes. Competitors in this category will participate in timed trials over two days. To be eligible, swimmers need to have an affiliation with a national federation and can compete individually, for their club, team, or as members of a national federation.
Specific entry requirements and entry times for the open category will be announced at a later date. This ensures that all participants have a fair and equal chance to showcase their skills and abilities.
The story of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, gained attention during the 2022 NCAA Championships when she became the first transgender woman to win a women’s championship. Similarly, Iszac Henig, a transgender man from the Yale Bulldogs team, came out in 2021 but continued to swim on the Yale women’s team without undergoing hormone therapy.
The introduction of the open category at the Berlin Swimming World Cup marks a significant step forward in promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport of swimming. It provides transgender swimmers with an opportunity to compete at the highest level and helps break down barriers that have historically limited their participation.
(Note: The associated press contributed to this report.)
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