World Aquatics will debut its new “open” category in competition during the opening leg of the 2023 World Cup Series in Berlin, the global governing body announced Wednesday.
World Aquatics initially announced its intention to use an open division during the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, where they voted to ban transgender women from competing in women’s categories, and during this year’s Worlds in Fukuoka, the organization confirmed that transgender swimmers would be included in the new category.
“This pioneering pilot project highlights the organization’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity, welcoming swimmers of all sex and gender identities,” World Aquatics said.
The open category will feature races in the 50 and 100-meter distances across all strokes, and swimmers will race in timed finals over two days (the Berlin stop is scheduled for three days). Swimmers will need to be affiliated with a national federation in order to be eligible to compete.
“For this inaugural event, the emphasis is on gaining further experience for future development and celebrating diversity,” the organization added.
President Husain Al-Musallam said World Aquatics has “diligently worked to make this a reality” after committing to creating an open category last year.
German Swimming Federation vice President Kai Morgenroth expressed his excitement for having the opportunity to host the initial running of the open category.
“Berlin is thrilled to champion this groundbreaking initiative with the full endorsement of the German Swimming Federation,” said Morgenroth. “We’re proud to host an event where swimmers can compete without barriers. Berlin is Germany’s hub for diversity and inclusion and therefore the perfect location for such a progressive project.”
This year’s World Cup Series will be raced in long course meters, a tradition in the pre-Olympic year, with the Berlin leg kicking things off from October 6-8. The series will then shift to Athens, Greece (October 13-15) and then conclude in Budapest, Hungary (October 20-22).
It seems like this is just another category for men to win. Unless you develop very odd and non-inclusive restrictions not sure how this would be anything but a chance for second tier men (or even just below the top if there is the same money). A Lia Thomas who would be ranked in the 600’s in an open category will not place.
Have they posted the eligibility and qualification criteria yet? I’m curious as to how they’ll find a field of trans women who can compete at a world-class standard and who’d also be willing to deal with the public scrutiny.
This is becoming a circus
No
I’m wondering what the qualification standards will be. If i was a coach and had a age group swimmer with some potential I might bring them to the meet and race them in the open category if the standard is easier.
I don’t think there will be any.
To guarantee inclusivity
Reasonable. I like it.
I wonder if they have identified and been in contact with trans swimmers to invite them to the event?
Will they allow trans-men athletes who take testosterone, as almost all who transition from female to male do? If not, this is only inclusive for trans-women. That is, not very inclusive. So, I agree with those that argue for Open and women categories.