U.S. Masters Swimming Review Panel Finds Swimmer Was Eligible in Spring

U.S. Masters Swimming Evaluate Panel Finds Swimmer Was Eligible in Spring

A U.S. Masters Swimming’s Eligibility Evaluate Panel has discovered {that a} swimmer on the middle of a gender controversy within the spring was eligible to compete as a feminine.

In an announcement launched Friday, U.S. Masters Swimming didn’t identify the swimmer. Nevertheless it discovered that underneath the foundations in impact by July 1, 2025, the swimmer demonstrated “that she was eligible for competitors within the feminine class.”

U.S. Masters Swimming didn’t identify the swimmer, although controversy did come up over a swimmer who gained 5 gold medals at U.S. Masters Spring Nationals in San Antonio. U.S. Masters Swimming clarified that an interim eligibility coverage was applied July 1, which “permits for recognition within the feminine competitors class primarily based on intercourse assigned at start, however permits for participation within the feminine class (as outlined within the coverage) primarily based on gender identification.” (Particulars of the interim coverage can be found right here.)

The situation of the meet has turned it into a problem for politicians and political commentators. Friday’s report is extra consequential to U.S. Masters Swimming, which has confronted criticism from the skin and from inside its personal membership, in addition to lawsuits by politicians.

The Evaluate Panel was initiated by one other swimmer. (Underneath USMS coverage, “swimmers in the identical gender class, identical age group, and having participated in the identical occasion throughout the identical season could request an eligibility assessment of one other swimmer at any time earlier than the occasions submission deadline for that season.”) The swimmer in query introduced detailed data to the panel together with documentation, a private assertion, and voluntary medical documentation to “corroborate her eligibility for the feminine class.”

From the U.S. Masters Swimming launch:

Underneath the USMS Eligibility Evaluate Procedures in place till July 1, 2025, the swimmer whose eligibility was challenged submitted documentation to the Eligibility Evaluate Panel concerning her eligibility to take part within the feminine competitors class and for official types of recognition, together with documentation reflecting her intercourse assigned at start and her gender identification, together with a start certificates, passport, and U.S. citizenship paperwork. The Eligibility Evaluate Panel additionally met with the swimmer and her counsel and reviewed a private assertion she submitted. The paperwork the swimmer submitted all show that she was assigned the feminine intercourse at start and that she identifies as feminine, though she swam within the male class at USMS occasions 2002-2004. Though it was not required, the swimmer voluntarily offered previous and present medical documentation corroborating the knowledge contained within the paperwork she submitted and corroborating her eligibility within the feminine class.  

In gentle of these details, the panel concluded that the swimmer was eligible to swim as a feminine.

“We respect our members’ persistence throughout this thorough assessment course of because the complexities of the matter have been exacerbated by the skin authorized and media consideration obtained,” the assertion learn. “USMS additionally desires to encourage our members to deal with one another with dignity, kindness, and respect as outlined within the USMS code of conduct.”

Edit: An earlier model of this story incorrectly characterised the character of the case. The article has been corrected. Swimming World apologizes for the error.