Caitlyn Jenner Forecasts the Death of Women’s Sports on Lance Armstrong’s Podcast

Renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong has been in headlines for his statement surrounding the inclusion of trans athletes. Nonetheless, following his assertions on the subject, the topic of inclusion and diversity became the center of the spotlight. However, days before garnering social media’s attention, the cyclist sat down with none other than Caitlyn Jenner and talked about several nooks and crannies of the subject. Both individuals delved into the complex and highly debated topic of transgender participation in sports.

In the episode of the Forward Podcast, Armstrong and Jenner thoughtfully discussed the effects transgender athletes competing in women’s sports have on women’s sports as a whole. More so, as both a trans woman and athlete, Jenner shared her invaluable insights on the crucial aspects of the subject.

Caitlyn Jenner’s and Armstrong’s Views on trans athletes in Sports

Armstrong initiated the dialogue by sharing a personal anecdote that reshaped his perspective toward transgenders. Caitlyn Jenner, on the other hand, emphasized her commitment to fairness in sports. She stressed the importance of protecting women’s spaces and advocated for policies that uphold the integrity of women’s sports. Jenner stated, “I am all about fairness not equity and sports has to be fair. I want to protect women, I want to protect women’s spaces in sports“.

Jenner even cited the example of Lia Thomas, the transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship. Throughout the podcast, Jenner expressed concerns about maintaining a level playing field. She then made a bold assumption about the future of women’s sports and conceded, “We always have to say on the side of fairness and protecting women’s sports. Or you won’t honestly have women’s sports in 10, 20 years from now.” 

Sports that have banned the participation of trans athletes

Recently, cycling became the latest sport to ban trans athletes from competing in elite women’s sports. Governing bodies of sports like swimming, track, and field, and now cycling are all prioritising fairness over inclusion in order. The governing bodies of these sports do maintain that their sport is meant to be played and enjoyed by everyone. However, for elite competitions, there are certain regulations in place for a level playing field for everybody.

Read more: After FINA, World Athletics Also Hints at a Huge Change in Sport for Trans Athletes

Armstrong’s podcast was timed with Pride Month, which is a four-week celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in June. However, the debates around inclusion and diversity still haven’t reached to apt conclusions. As Jenner added, “this has been an issue, it’s been around for a long long time.” Nevertheless, Jenner’s outlook on the subject sheds light on the various alcoves of the topic. Now, as the discussion continues to evolve, it is vital to foster an environment that embraces empathy, understanding, and fair opportunities for all athletes, don’t you agree?

Watch this story: Amidst the Ruckus Ground Transgender NCAA Swimmer Lia Thomas, Swimming GOAT Michael Phelps Terms the Issue as “Complicated”