Elise Lundholm to Compete as First Openly Transgender Athlete in Winter Olympics
Swedish skier Elise Lundholm is set to make history as the first openly transgender athlete to take part in the Winter Olympics. The announcement came from the Swedish ski team last month, stating that Lundholm is biologically female but identifies as male.
Lundholm will compete in the women’s freestyle ski division, following the current guidelines set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Remarkably, she is also the only openly transgender athlete confirmed to participate in the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The IOC’s 2021 Framework on Equity, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination outlines that transgender athletes can compete, provided they have approval from their respective sports organizations. This framework aims to balance the need for all individuals to engage in sports within a safe and inclusive environment while also ensuring fair competition.
“This framework recognizes both the need to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual diversity, can practice sport in a safe and harassment-free environment that recognizes and respects their needs and identities, and the interests of everyone, especially elite-level athletes, to participate in fair competitions,” the document states.
Interestingly, there have been discussions about a broader review of transgender eligibility criteria, which may restrict biological males from competing in women’s sports. This was prompted by findings presented by Dr. Jane Thornton from the IOC, which suggested that physical advantages persist for men even after extensive testosterone treatment. However, as of now, no new policy has been officially released.
In the past, the Olympic gender guidelines have faced criticism; at the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes like Algeria’s Imane Kherif and Taiwan’s Lin Yuting faced backlash after achieving gold medals despite previous controversies surrounding gender tests.
The situation continues to evolve as the IOC reviews its policies, which could have significant implications for future competitions. Meanwhile, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has updated its own policies in response to recent executive orders, aiming to align with national conversations on the topic.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, the conversation surrounding transgender participation in sports remains a crucial and heated one, with many nuances yet to be explored.
