Trans Swimmers Spark Controversy in US Masters Swimming

US Masters Swimming (USMS), which boasts over 60,000 adult swimmers, has recently entered the national conversation following reports that trans athletes won five women’s events. The organization confirmed that they are currently undergoing an Eligibility Review in light of requests from competitors.

Wendy Enderle, a Louisiana swimmer, said she initiated an eligibility review after discovering a competitor she had raced against for years is transgender, following a report about the recent events.

“I feel betrayed. It’s plain and simple,” Enderle shared. She recently competed against trans swimmer Anacardas at the USMS Spring National Championships in San Antonio, where Anacardas triumphed in five races, including the 50 and 100-yard freestyle for the 45-49 age group.

Enderle had previously seen Anacardas compete in February at the Masters World Championship in Doha, Qatar, where Anacardas finished at 27.91, while Enderle’s time was 29.19. Interestingly, she didn’t confirm Anacardas’s gender identity until their meet in Little Rock in January, initially viewing Anacardas as a biological woman. “I knew something was off, but I didn’t realize until after the competition,” she explained, expressing her shock and anger.

Last week, Enderle submitted a request for a review, hoping to prevent Anacardas’s participation in the upcoming World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore. “I don’t think it’s right for her to compete in the women’s category,” Enderle stated, emphasizing her belief in fairness in sports rather than targeting trans individuals.

Another swimmer, Angie Griffin, also competed alongside Anacardas without knowing their birth gender. The revelation prompted Griffin to write formal complaints to USMS, urging them to reassess their gender eligibility policies after witnessing the impact on competitive integrity. “We couldn’t stop thinking about how individual competition was compromised,” she remarked, questioning the organization’s adherence to fair standards that align with others in the sporting world.

Despite defeating Anacardas’s team in their relay, Griffin still left the experience feeling unsettled. “Winning didn’t erase any concerns,” she noted.

USMS is currently evaluating eligibility based on what occurred at the San Antonio event, though the organization has admitted it has never disqualified competitors based on gender identity. “We have never disqualified swimmers from official recognition based on gender eligibility,” USMS told media outlets.

The organization’s policy allows transgender swimmers to compete in categories corresponding to their gender identity, provided specific conditions are met. This includes ongoing hormone therapy and testosterone levels below a specified threshold.

Trans swimmers who don’t meet these criteria can still compete but will have their times excluded from official results. The eligibility panel will continue to follow a structured process to maintain athlete privacy and ensure fair standards are applied.