US presidential executive order on women’s sports has been met with fierce criticism from trans cyclist Austin Killips, who claims President Donald Trump used her and other trans athletes as a scapegoat to advance his own agenda.
Killips, a two-time UCI stage race winner and trans woman, signed the executive order into law two weeks ago, which bars individuals assigned male at birth from participating in women’s sports. However, Killips says she has done nothing to support women’s cycling, despite her own achievements in the sport.
“I’ve won numerous stages, set new records, and broken barriers for trans women in cycling,” Killips wrote in a scathing Op-Ed for The Guardian. “Yet, Trump’s executive order ignores my efforts and instead focuses on perpetuating false narratives about trans athletes.”
Killips argues that Trump’s rhetoric has not led to any meaningful support for women’s sports or investment opportunities for female cyclists. Instead, it has been used as a tool to exclude trans athletes and deny them opportunities.
“The only action items referencing funding simply establish a precedent for rescinding money from organizations investing in women and girls who have given their lives and bodies to sport,” Killips wrote. “This new reality means all women lose.”
Killips is not alone in her criticism of Trump’s executive order. Many in the cycling community have raised concerns about the impact on trans athletes and the lack of meaningful support for women’s sports.
As the debate around women’s sports continues, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s empty promise will lead to any tangible improvements for female cyclists.
Source: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/trump-used-me-as-a-scapegoat-trans-cyclist-austin-killips-slams-the-president-for-doing-nothing-to-actually-elevate-fund-or-support-women-athletes