Why transgender icon Caitlyn Jenner is against trans athletes competing in sports

Former decathlon champion and an advocate for transgender rights, Caitlyn Jenner, has voiced her opinion against transgender athletes competing in the women's category. The Olympic gold medallist believes she's trying to safeguard the "integrity of sports" by advocating a ban on trans athletes.

Jenner is one of the most prominent figures in the sporting world as well as the media. Formerly known as Bruce Jenner, she represented the United States twice in the Olympics in 1972 (Munich) and 1976 (Montreal), winning a gold in 1976. These were men's events that occurred before Jenner's gender transition. In 2015, Jenner courageously announced she identifies as a woman. Since then, the 74-year-old has been an advocate of trans rights and supports their cause fearlessly.

However, the New York native has always raised concerns about transgender athletes competing with biological women. In her statement given to TMZ in 2021, Jenner said that she opposes "biological boys," who identify as transgender, competing in girls' sports in school. She believes the practice is unfair to girls and thus advocates for their protection in schools.

In March this year, Jenner also came out in support of New York County restricting usage of county-owned sports facilities for female sports teams with trans athletes. As a result of the law's imposition, approximately 100 sports facilities faced a ban.

Expressing her take on the ban, Jenner said that she has all the sympathy for trans people, but allowing them to compete with women could weaken the progress women athletes have achieved under Title IX. Title IX is a law that prohibits sex inequality in federally funded facilities.

When Caitlyn Jenner criticized a trans runner winning an event in California

Caitlyn Jenner was called the most famous trans woman on Earth during her transition (IMAGE: GETTY)

Caitlyn Jenner condemned Athena Ryan, a trans athlete, for winning the 2.97-mile varsity event during the Coastal Mountain Conference Championship in November 2023. Jenner said it was unfair for girl athletes competing against Ryan.

She took to her X handle (formerly Twitter) to express her dissatisfaction and wrote:

"As someone that ran track at the most elite levels, while also having an understanding of trans topics especially as related to sport, this is so wrong.

"This cheated young women out of well-deserved opportunities that directly impact their ability for scholarships!"

Josie Hill, a biological female, came in second against Ryan in the aforementioned competition.