"They have advantage"- Martina Navratilova responds to claim about males' "pre-puberty" sports performance; continues championing sex-based categories

Martina Navratilova continued championing sex-based categories in sports. The tennis legend made her feelings known about males' "pre-puberty" sports performance, stating that they have an "advantage" over females.

A recent study made by the European College of Sports Science showed that male swimmers aged 10 and under were faster than females in long-course swimming events. Although four of the twelve events under evaluation showcased no significant sex-based differences, the remaining eight suggested boys swam faster than girls.

Taking to social media on Sunday, December 8, healthcare entrepreneur Mary I. O'Connor demonstrated the publication to assert the need for fairness in sports by excluding males in women's events.

"Male sports performance advantage exists PRE-PUBERTY. For fairness and safety, no males in girls' and women's sport," O'Connor's post read.

Navratilova agreed to the remarks, stating that the males had an obvious advantage. She highlighted the difference by comparing how boys and girls carried out any sport on a playground.

"Of course they have an advantage already- just go to any playground and compare what the boys are doing compared to the girls…," Navratilova wrote on X.

Martina Navratilova has for a long time, advocated for the exclusion of biological males in women's sports. The Tennis Hall of Famer recently welcomed the 'Fairness and Safety in Sports Act' which endorses female-only divisions in sports. After a couple of debates, the bill was eventually passed in Alberta's parliament on December 3.

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"Male bodies are different from female bodies" - Martina Navratilova on excluding trans-athletes in women's sports

Martina Navratilova at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships (Source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova pointed out the biological differences in male and female bodies, explaining why she stands for the exclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports.

In a recent episode of the "The Politics War Room" podcast, Navratilova opined that identities were irrelevant to the field of sports, where distinct sex categories mattered.

"Identity is one thing, but identity does not apply to sports. Sex category applies to sports. Male bodies are different from female bodies," Navratilova said.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion asserted the need to protect female spaces by drawing a line on gender identity.

"When it comes to female sex-based spaces, which includes sports, then I think we need to put a line there and say 'We just really need this space to be female.' And that's the end," she added.

Martina Navratilova, however, has affirmed that her fight is not against transgender athletes but biological male athletes who enter women's spaces in sports.