When Rachel McKinnon hopped on her bike to compete in the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championship earlier this month in California, she knew she had followed the competition rules to a tee – ironic for a kid who grew up golfing in Greater Victoria and who is now at the centre of a firestorm of backlash for being a transgender athlete.
“I’m not naive, I work on this topic professionally,” says the College of Charleston professor, on the line from South Carolina. “I’m currently teaching a course on transgender people in sport and yet, I’m pretty shocked at how heavy the backlash is.”
First transgender woman world champion…ever.*
UCI Masters Track Cycling Women 35-44 Sprint@outsports @TheAdvocateMag @CofC @PinkNews @TheChrisMosier @BicyclingMag @velonews @gcntweet @glaad @TransMediaWatch @TransEquality @TransgenderNews @equalitynetwork pic.twitter.com/SD0HuS1Crv
— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 14, 2018
On Oct. 13, the Stelly’s Secondary School alum and UVic graduate made history as the first transgender woman to win a world title. But, it’s the idea that McKinnon had an unfair advantage – due to being assigned male at birth – that caused an international uproar.
“All the work that went into that victory, people are attributing to me being trans,” she says. “I didn’t just get up off the couch and win. I worked my butt off.”
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Standing on the podium with the bronze medal was Jen Wagner Assali, a hand surgeon from Houston, who tweeted immediately following the race that the result was unfair.
She later apologized, saying she made the comments out of frustration and that they weren’t productive or positive, adding: “While I may not agree with the rules, when I pin on a number I agree to race by them.”
The rules, McKinnon says, are clear, and she has always competed in accordance with them, regularly testing her testosterone levels – which require staying below 10 nanomoles for every litre of blood.
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The idea that she could have had a physical advantage over her competitors solely based on gender frustrates McKinnon who says in the qualifying rounds, Wagner Assali “beat me 10 out of 12 times.”
And of her competitor’s response on social media, McKinnon says: “She made it clear that she stood by what she said, but just regretted doing it publicly.”
My results last year. …where's this advantage you speak of? Why was I nearly LAST PLACE in most of the pro races (and I only one the one pro race all season)? pic.twitter.com/x68XFvYndI
— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 22, 2018
Transgender athletes first competed in Olympic level sport in 2004 – to date, none of them have reached the podium – and it is the International Olympic Committee’s guidelines for male-to-female trans athletes that most elite level sport organizations also use.
In 2017, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine surveyed 2,127 cisgender track and field athletes (those whose gender identity aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth) testing their levels of testosterone in comparison with their performance.
While the data has yet to be released, the study found men with higher levels of testosterone didn’t necessarily fare any better in any particular event and women with high levels of testosterone sometimes had an advantage over those with lower levels.
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The controversy is predictable, McKinnon says, because the rights of transgender people have made significant gains in recent years. “Every time this has happened in history with marginalized groups and the advancement of civil rights, there’s been a backlash,” she points out. “And, I think we’re in that moment.” Truth be told, McKinnon doesn’t think people really even care about women’s track cycling, a relatively new sport that first appeared at the 1988 Olympics, and that the criticisms are just a way of “exposing whatever transphobia they already had.” Participation in sport is a human right, she says, pointing to the fourth principle of the Olympic Charter. “I do look forward to the day, if it ever comes, that I or people like me can just focus on competing,” McKinnon says. “That’s hard enough.” @kristyn_anthony Just Posted![]() WATCH: Two suspects arrested after multi-jurisdictional chaseA half dozen police cars were seen heading north on Highway 97 ![]() School district votes to sell Ashcroft HUB for ‘nominal fee’ to HUB SocietyAmendment to motion seeks to keep school district’s financial interests in property secure ![]() No date set for public meeting to discuss fate of Cache Creek poolCouncil says public meeting cannot take place until budget discussions have been held ![]() Interior Health reports 16 new COVID-19 cases423 cases remain active in the region ![]() Murder charge laid in February 2020 stabbing death of Smithers manMichael Egenolf is charged with the second-degree murder of Brodie Cumiskey ![]() B.C. reports 438 new COVID cases, 2 deaths; Dr. Henry defends vaccine planLong-term care outbreaks are decreasing ![]() Fentanyl toxicity rises, carfentanil deaths spike: 165 fatal overdoses in 1st month of 2021Roughly 11 people died every two days in January ![]() B.C.’s renoviction overhaul a good start, but won’t preserve affordable stock, lawyer saysAnd still no protection for people who can’t pay rent due to COVID-19 ![]() Cause of Kamloops landfill fire may never be knownFire investigators are dealing with too much destruction in too large an area ![]() B.C. WHL teams to hit the ice with Kelowna, Kamloops hub citiesKelowna, Kamloops centres chosen to host B.C. WHL teams for 24-game regular season ![]() Feds dole out $3.5M for ‘vending machines’ to dispense safer opioids in B.C.The machines are located in four cities across Canada, including Vancouver and Victoria ![]() Tourism, small business getting COVID-19 help, B.C. minister says$300M grant program has delivered $50 million so far ![]() Castlegar teen recounts stabbing after stranger breaks into grandmother’s houseThe unnamed teen survived a terrifying attack Feb. 21 ![]() Agassiz boy, 11, dies from ‘extensive injuries’: Homicide teamAgassiz RCMP were called out Friday to assist with a child in medical distress Most Read |