Olympians voice support for reported IOC policy on biological males in women's events

Several Olympic medalists shared positive reactions with Fox News Digital to an International Olympic Committee policy update reportedly barring biological males from women's sports events starting at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.^[1]

Kaillie Humphries, a bobsled pilot who won gold medals at the 2010, 2014 and 2022 Winter Olympics and bronze at the 2022 Games representing the United States,^[2] said: "Today is a great day for women’s sports and a big win in the Olympic world. By implementing the sex testing, it will allow for fair competition. It used to happen years ago, and by bringing it back it will protect the women’s category. I think it’s very fitting that LA28 will be the games to protect women’s sports as it’s something that our president has advocated for."

Donna de Varona, a swimmer who won two gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 400m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle relay,^[3] stated: "With the election of Kirsty Coventry, an Olympic champion, and her decision to appoint another woman to lead the medical commission, it was informative that the IOC decided to go outside to reach researchers to base this opinion on science and fairness. And it's the right decision. Really, science and research is how this decision was based. I mean, I basically think everyone should have an opportunity in sport, but, in the Olympic arena, it's a zero-sum game."

Gary Hall Jr., a swimmer with five Olympic gold medals including the 50m freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Games,^[4] commented: "The IOC made the right decision, supporting women’s rights. Transgender athletes are not being banned from the Olympic Games. The ruling very specifically bans born males from competing in women’s events. Which is the right thing to do, by every account of science and common sense. A born male after transition can still compete in men’s events, and I wish them luck."

MyKayla Skinner, a gymnast who won silver in vault at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,^[5] said: "The best news! About time!"

Katie Uhlaender, a skeleton athlete who competed in four Winter Olympics from 2006 to 2018,^[6] remarked: "This is huge for women’s sport. For years, female athletes have asked for clarity, consistency and fairness in competition. Not politics. Not ambiguity. Just clear standards that protect the integrity of the category we train our entire lives to compete in. Sport only works when rules are applied consistently and athletes can trust them. Progress doesn’t come from avoiding hard conversations. It comes from addressing them with courage. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen, who protected women’s sport."

Tyler Clary, a swimmer who won gold in the 200m backstroke at the 2012 London Olympics,^[7] said: "This is a long-overdue return to common sense, and the IOC deserves credit for taking a clear stand. At the elite level, fairness matters, and protecting the women’s category based on biological reality is essential to preserving it."

Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a swimmer with three gold medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Games,^[8] stated: "Playing sport is a human right. Today’s IOC announcement affirms that principle of inclusion and diversity. All athletes are to compete in their category; their weight, age, ability category and, now, their sex category. On behalf of women in sport, thank you for your leadership, IOC."

Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion in tennis,^[9] said in a statement: "Welcome news today from the IOC. People who adopt different gender identities, such as transgender, gender non-conforming or others should be afforded the same human rights as other citizens and protected from discrimination, so long as no sex-based rights are compromised. It’s what the gay, lesbian and bisexual community fought for over decades. Today’s IOC decision recognizes that, in Olympic sports, sex matters, and women’s sex-based rights must take precedence over gender-based identities."