Pioneers: The trans athletes who changed the world of sport forever

Trans athletes have been coming under more and more scrutiny in recent years, however, the controversy around their participation has been ongoing for some time. Let's take a look at some of sports' trans pioneers!

Challenging stereotypes and advocating for broader understanding, these athletes have broken down the barriers that exist around gender and sport.

Let's take a look at some of the most prominent trans athletes who have and continue to have a huge impact on sport worldwide.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender woman to win a Division I NCAA swimming title in 2022, setting off national debates around fairness in women's sports. Competing for the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas' victories continue to fuel conversations on transgender participation in collegiate athletics.

Valentina Petrillo became the first trans-para-athlete at the 2024 Paralympic Games. Despite controversy from other competitors, Petrillo was allowed to compete, although she was unable to get amongst the medals as she crashed out in the 400m T12 category semi-finals.

Chris Mosier made history as the first openly transgender athlete to qualify for a U.S. national team in his gender identity, competing in duathlon and triathlon. An outspoken advocate for trans athletes, Mosier challenged the International Olympic Committee's policies and paved the way for future transgender athletes, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Laurel Hubbard, a New Zealand weightlifter, became the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Olympics during the Tokyo 2020 Games. Competing in the women's super-heavyweight category, Hubbard's inclusion sparked intense debates about fairness in weightlifting and set a precedent for transgender athletes on the Olympic stage, as reported

Renée Richards, one of the pioneers in trans sports, was a professional tennis player who fought for her right to compete in women's tennis in the 1970s after transitioning. Richards won a landmark legal case in 1977, allowing her to play in the U.S. Open women's competition. Her bravery and legal fight helped open doors for future transgender athletes, making her a trailblazer in transgender sports history.

Layshia Clarendon is a WNBA player who made history as the first openly non-binary and transgender player in the league. Clarendon, a guard for the New York Liberty, has been a vocal advocate for trans athletes and uses their platform to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ inclusion in professional sports, helping shift the conversation around gender identity in basketball.

As the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title in track and field in 2019, CeCé Telfer's victory in the 400-meter hurdles brought national attention to the NCAA's transgender athlete policies, spurring debates about inclusion in women's sports.

Quinn, a Canadian soccer player, made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2012) as the first openly transgender and non-binary athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. Quinn's achievement in women's soccer spotlighted the increasing presence of trans and non-binary athletes at the highest levels of international competition, as reported by The Guardian.

Jaiyah Saelua, a fa'afafine (third gender in Samoan culture) soccer player, was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Representing American Samoa, Saelua's journey brought visibility to non-binary athletes on the global sports stage.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Mack Beggs, a transgender male wrestler, won the Texas girls' state wrestling championship in 2017 and 2018 while transitioning. Due to state regulations, he was required to compete in the girls' division – a division which he would win in 2017 – sparking debates about the inclusion of transgender athletes in high school sports, as reported by The Texas Tribune.

Patricio Manuel made history as the first openly transgender man to compete in a professional boxing match in the U.S. His victory in 2018 solidified his place in sports history and demonstrated the evolving attitudes toward transgender athletes in traditionally hypermasculine sports like boxing.

Keelin Godsey, a transgender man, competed in the women's hammer throw during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Although he did not qualify for the Olympics, Godsey's presence at such a high level of competition helped highlight transgender athletes in track and field.

Chelsea Wolfe is a BMX freestyle rider from the United States and an alternate for the U.S. Olympic BMX team. As a transgender woman, Wolfe has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, both in and out of the sports world. Her visibility in BMX has opened the conversation on the place of trans athletes in extreme sports.

These athletes have not only broken barriers in their respective sports but also sparked meaningful conversations about the future of inclusivity. It's a conversation that will likely be ongoing for the coming years as the sporting world decides what role trans and non-binary athletes have in competitions.

For now, however, World Athletics is pretty set on its stance on the role of transgender athletes in their competitions. As of March 2023, the organisation has employed a rule that no transgender athlete who had gone through male puberty would be permitted to compete in a female world ranking competition, as reported by the BBC.

The governing body's president, Lord Sebastian Coe, said a group would conduct further research into the transgender eligibility guidelines: "We're not saying no forever," he said, as reported by the BBC.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!