Former US Olympian and professional cyclist, Inga Thompson, is urging cyclists to take a knee in protest of the transgender policy allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.
Thompson, a three-time Olympian, is calling on all athletes and sports organizations to “save women’s sports” by protesting against the policy. She believes that transgender athletes competing in women’s sports would be an unfair advantage, as they have the physiological advantages of a male body.
Thompson’s call to action comes in the wake of several high-profile cases, including the case of New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who became the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, but failed to win a medal.
Thompson argues that this policy could not only affect the fairness of competition, but also have a negative impact on the safety and opportunities for female athletes. She believes that it is important to protect the integrity of women’s sports and to ensure that women have a level playing field to compete on.
While there is some controversy surrounding the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports, the International Olympic Committee has implemented a policy allowing transgender athletes to compete under certain conditions. The policy requires that the athlete’s testosterone levels remain below a certain threshold for at least 12 months prior to competing.
However, critics argue that this policy is not enough to ensure fairness in competition and that transgender athletes may still have an unfair advantage over their female competitors.
Thompson’s call for cyclists to take a knee in protest is reminiscent of the protests against police brutality and racial injustice that took place in the United States in 2020. The action of taking a knee has become a symbol of protest against inequality and injustice.
As the debate over transgender athletes in sports continues, it remains to be seen how athletes and sports organizations will respond to Thompson’s call to action. While some may see her message as divisive, others may see it as an important step towards protecting the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring that female athletes have a level playing field to compete on.