Female cyclist retires because of male competitors: Women 'no longer have a fair chance'

Female cyclist retires because of male competitors: Women 'no longer have a fair chance'



Hannah Arensman — a professional female cyclist from Brevard, North Carolina, who just turned 25 years old — has retired from the competitive circuit because male participants now dominate the sport, reports confirmed on Wednesday.

At her last race, the 2022 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships held back in December, Arensman finished in fourth place and was kept off of the winner's podium by Austin Killips. As might be guessed by his name, Austin Killips is a man who finished in third place, ahead of Arensman and dozens of other female cyclists, and who opted not to participate in the "non-binary" competition the day before.

"It has become increasingly discouraging to train as hard as I do only to have to lose to a man with the unfair advantage of an androgenized body that intrinsically gives him an obvious advantage over me, no matter how hard I train," Arensman said in a statement.

With his third-place finish, Killips didn't just keep Arensman from a bronze medal in the national championship. He may also have kept Arensman from a spot on the U.S. team at the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, held last month in the Netherlands.

In her statement, Arensman expressed sadness and frustration that she has spent most of her life in sports, only to be outdone by men. She also expressed concern about young female riders who now have little hope of competing at a high level because of male infiltrators.

"I feel for young girls learning to compete and who are growing up in a day when they no longer have a fair chance at being the new record holders and champions in cycling because men want to compete in our division," she said.

In addition to the men in women's sports, Arensman's statement took aim at the leaders of professional and national athletics organizations who have not fought to preserve competitive categories for women only.

"I have felt deeply angered, disappointed, overlooked, and humiliated that the rule makers of women’s sports do not feel it is necessary to protect women’s sports to ensure fair competition for women anymore," Arensman said.

Arensman's retirement statement appeared in a U.S. Supreme Court brief, filed on March 13, regarding the Save Women's Sports law in West Virginia. "By affirming West Virginia’s right to stand with women and girls, this Court can ensure that females’ basic right to be treated equally is still the legal norm in the United States," stated the amici curiae brief, officially supported by 67 female athletes, coaches, sports officials, and parents of female athletes.

The Independent Council on Women's Sports — an organization with the goal of "elevating and empowering female athletes" and "protecting [the] safety, fairness and opportunity for girls and women" — likewise shared Arensman's retirement statement on social media.

pic.twitter.com/5JLIfZfZgb
— ICONS Women (@icons_women) March 15, 2023

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Women protest transgender athlete inclusion at NCAA convention, threaten to sue if changes aren't made



Women including former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines protested the inclusion of male-to-female transgender athletes in sports outside the NCAA convention, handing over a petition and threatening legal action, according to Yahoo News.

Gaines, who famously spoke out against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, took to the forefront of the group of a reported two dozen demonstrators.

“Today, we intend to personally tell the NCAA to stop discriminating against female athletes by handing them a petition that we have garnered nearly 10,000 signatures on in just a couple of days,” said Gaines.

Other guests included Marshi Smith, former NCAA athlete and co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports. Smith outlined demands from the council, which were sent in a letter to the NCAA's legal team.

The letter reads:

"To avoid legal action, the NCAA must comply with civil rights law immediately by:

  • Repealing all policies and rules that allow male athletes to take roster spots on women’s teams and/or compete in women’s events;
  • Establishing and enforcing rules to keep women’s sports female;
  • Requiring colleges to provide single-sex locker rooms for female athletes."
Another speaker was a high school student who claimed that she was suspended when she spoke out against a male student changing in the girls' locker room, with the school even stopping all the females from using the changing room after complaints.
\u201cFemale athlete Blake Allen protested a male being allowed to undress in her girls locker room and when she protested, the school stopped all of the girls from using the locker room. She\u2019s fighting back as an @ADFLegal client.\u201d
— Jonathan Saenz (@Jonathan Saenz) 1673538823

The NCAA held a session on the topic during the convention, speaking in detail on the subject.

Ivy League executive director Robin Harris said the NCAA wants to "have an environment that is fair, welcoming and inclusive for all of (the athletes),” adding that the eligibility requirements for transgender athletes are the same as for other athletes.

NCAA director of inclusion Jean Merrill stated that transgender athletes are indeed "playing by the rules.”

The session also saw a former transgender athlete give commentary; Schuyler Bailar is a swimmer who switched from female swimming to male swimming at Harvard.

"The more we learn about bodies and biology and people and the more we understand diversity and equity and inclusion,” Bailar remarked.

Bailar also supported a policy that would see the NCAA not holding competitions in states that ban transgender athletes in women's sports, adding, "If you’re asking me do I want more support for trans people? The answer is going to be absolutely yes."

The NCAA officials accepted the petition from Riley Gaines outside the convention.

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\u201cBREAKING:\nCompelling moment in #USA\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8#sports. \nAthletes @icons_women @KimJonesICONS @SmithMarshi @Hogshead3Au and others, lead by @Riley_Gaines_ , present #NCAA officials with petition & letter warning of legal action.\n\ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffcThe @NCAA is not above the law!\n#SaveWomensSports \n#Texas\u201d
— Linda Blade (@Linda Blade) 1673545076


\u201cToday, @Riley_Gaines_ and other amazing women spoke on behalf of collegiate women athletes across the country who want to keep men out of women\u2019s sports. The @NCAA should take notice, women and concerned citizens will not stay silent on this issue. #SaveWomensSports @txvalues\u201d
— Nino Gonzalez (@Nino Gonzalez) 1673552282


\u201cThis is Blake Allen. As a mere sophomore in high school, Blake spoke up about a male who came into the girls\u2019 locker room to stare at the girls. \nSHE was suspended from school! Her dad Lost His Job! They were later overturned - but it is why we need our #SexBasedRights\u201d
— Nancy Hogshead-Makar, JD, Oly (@Nancy Hogshead-Makar, JD, Oly) 1673561448