Two “non-binary” athletes will compete at the Paris Olympics this week, but many more are now barred from competing in the 2024 Games after Olympic officials allowed individual sports federations to make their own rules regarding transgender athletes.
One of these athletes, Canadian women’s soccer player Rebecca Quinn, has previously competed and will be the first “non-binary” athlete to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Quinn identifies as transgender and non-binary and currently plays for the Canadian women’s national soccer team.
Similarly, the American “non-binary” athletes competing this year were born female and will compete in the women’s division.
Runner Nikki Hiltz will compete in the women’s 1,500 meters as part of the U.S. team this year. Hiltz identifies as transgender and non-binary.
“I told myself not to think about all the love and support until I had 100 meters to go,” Hiltz said Sunday after qualifying for the Olympics. “And then in that moment, I can just let it all carry me through to the finish line. And that’s exactly what I did. I think that’s what brought me home.”
Hiltz also argued that he was competing on behalf of the gay community.
“It’s so unbelievable. This is bigger than me,” Hiltz said in an interview with NBC Sports. “Today is the last day of Pride Month. I wanted to run this race for my community and for all LGBTQ people. You all helped me make it the last 100 miles and bring it home.” [meters]”I could feel the love and support.”
Last night I qualified for my seventh consecutive US 1500 final, and having seen this race run in many different ways, I feel confident I will be ready for whatever comes my way on Sunday.
This is the DEEP 1500 finals. A rising tide floats all boats and this field has risen to epic levels. I am excited, grateful and ready to go. pic.twitter.com/iFVPXaba2T
— Nikki Hiltz (@Nikki_Hiltz) June 29, 2024
Several other transgender athletes, including controversial swimmer Leah Thomas, have been barred from international competition this year after several sports governing bodies changed their rules to tighten participation requirements for transgender athletes, particularly male-to-female transgender athletes, or banned them entirely.
However, several others were also ruled out after the rule change, including American BMX freestyle cyclist Chelsea Wolf, British cyclist Emily Bridges and French sprinter Halva Diouf.
Organizations that have tightened rules or outright banned transgender athletes include World Aquatics, World Athletics and the International Cycling Union.
A number of rule changes will see the 2024 Olympics sidestep the transgender issue, meaning that this time around, men who “transition” to women will not be able to compete.
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