Angie Griffin, a female competitor with U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), stated that a grievance was filed against her for referring to a transgender athlete as "a man" on a USMS community forum.[1]
USMS confirmed to Fox News Digital that a grievance was filed by an individual member, not the organization, related to the USMS Code of Conduct. The organization said it does not comment on individual member matters, including complaints or disciplinary processes, and that such matters are handled according to established review processes.[1]
U.S. Masters Swimming is the national governing body for adult swimming in the United States, sanctioning events for swimmers aged 18 and older.[2]
Griffin has voiced concerns about competing against a transgender athlete she described as a biological male, dating back to May 2025 when she participated in a meet in San Antonio, Texas, and learned the athlete's birth sex afterward.[1]
Griffin said the grievance could lead to the removal of her USMS records, recognition, and potential expulsion from the organization for expressing an opinion.[1]
She has hired representation and filed a motion to dismiss, submitting evidence that her comments were not bullying but based on publicly available facts.[1]
USMS updated its transgender athlete eligibility policy last June to restrict biological males from women's events and again this February to address compliance with state and local nondiscrimination laws, focusing on the men's/open category.[1] Under the policy, competitors selecting the men's/open category are eligible for recognition programs in that category regardless of sex, gender or gender identity.[3]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "US Masters swimmer facing grievance for calling out trans competitor: 'They can delete me'", October 8, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-masters-swimmer-facing-grievance-calling-out-trans-competitor-delete
- U.S. Masters Swimming, "About USMS", Accessed October 2024, https://www.usms.org/about-usms
- U.S. Masters Swimming, "Transgender Athlete Eligibility Policy", Accessed October 2024, https://www.usms.org/about-usms/governance/policies/transgender-athlete-eligibility-policy
