The row over trans athletes competing in women’s sport was reignited last night after it emerged a biological male was part of Cambridge University‘s female Boat Race squad.
Sarah Gibson was part of the Blondie crew – Cambridge’s second-string boat – that was soundly beaten by Oxford University‘s reserves in 2015.
Gibson, who now identifies as non-binary, was described in 2018 by Stonewall as ‘the first openly trans person to compete in [the race’s] 187-year history’.
While Gibson was the student union trans rep, the usual tradition of listing competitors’ previous schools was dropped so as not to draw attention to the fact that Gibson had attended a prestigious boys’ establishment.
Gibson’s inclusion on the women’s team sparked a backlash yesterday.
Controversial pick: Sarah Gibson, circled, training on the Thames with Cambridge University’s second-string rowing team ahead of the prestigious Boat Race in 2015
Retired British Olympian swimmer Sharron Davies, an outspoken critic of trans athletes competing against women, told the Mail: ‘It is wrong, I do not believe that anyone that has male puberty advantage should be in races that are designed for females’
Retired British Olympian swimmer Sharron Davies, an outspoken critic of trans athletes competing against women, told the Mail: ‘It is wrong, I do not believe that anyone that has male puberty advantage should be in races that are designed for females.
‘A female didn’t get an opportunity to be in that team and put it on their resume for the rest of their lives.
‘As far as I am concerned the women’s category should be reserved for females… we know that there is a huge difference in performance, especially in something like rowing, you can have a mediocre male who can compete as an elite female.’
Dr Nicola Williams, director of Fair Play For Women, said: ‘No one should be surprised by this. It’s what the rules allow. But it is so obviously unfair on female rowers.’
A former rower at Oxford said news of Gibson’s inclusion came as a blow.
The mother-of-four, who was not named, said: ‘As an ex-Oxford rower and knowing how hard we train (and what the disparity is between men and women especially on lung capacity), this really, really hits far too close to home.’
Gibson previously told Stonewall: ‘I wanted to take part in the Boat Race since I was a small kid and I was delighted when I got the chance. The club and coaches were very supportive. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it or reach my full potential without such an inclusive environment.’
A source familiar with the situation told the Telegraph: ‘Cambridge didn’t know what to do. Gibson already knew how to row, having learned to row at an elite boy’s school. The university thought they had to accept people exactly as they declared themselves to be.
‘Gibson only had to say, “I’m a woman, I’m eligible for this crew.” There was no mechanism for proving testosterone levels. Cambridge thought they had to be inclusive, and so they just accepted Gibson at face value.’
Practice: Gibson on an indoor rower at Cambridge’s Goldie Boathouse
Aspiration: Gibson said the race was a childhood dream
The source added: ‘Everyone knew Gibson was biologically male. But they thought they weren’t allowed to ask personal questions about testosterone levels, or being legally female, or surgery. They believed that was far too personal and intimate. Nobody thought that they could challenge.’
The 2015 Boat Race was welcomed as a victory for equality as it was the first time women were given the opportunity to race on the same stretch of the Thames as the men. The source continued: ‘It was a big celebration. It was decided not to display the schools the women had attended, because they didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that Gibson’s school was a boys’ school.
‘In the end, some young woman missed the chance to have her university colours, and to be in the university rowing club for the rest of her life. Gibson stated it was a childhood dream to appear in the race. Yes, for you and a lot of other people.
‘There’s a big dinner every year now after the Boat Race… and some young woman wasn’t there, because she didn’t get her chance to row in that boat after someone born male claimed to be a woman.’ Jane Sullivan, a recently retired rowing coach, told the Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast: ‘When you’re in Blondie or one of the top boats, you’re part of an exclusive club. You’re allowed to get your Blondie blazer.
‘It gives you access to this club of Blues and Half-Blues, and that stays with you for life. The woman who missed out in 2015 will never have her place in history. She won’t be part of that club. And I think that’s a shame. I feel for her.’
The Daily Mail understands that at the time Cambridge University Boat Club asked British Rowing for advice on allowing Gibson to take part as the club did not know what to do. British Rowing advised the club that it had to allow Gibson to take part based on existing gender policies.
A consultation by British Rowing over its new transgender policy ended last night. Its existing policy allows transgender women to compete in women’s events if they have reduced testosterone, following the approach taken by World Rowing.
But the organisation’s chairman, Mark Davies, has asked World Rowing to follow the lead of athletics and swimming bodies and create an open category for transgender women to compete in.
World Aquatics banned transgender women from the female category last year and World Athletics this year confirmed it will exclude athletes who have gone through male puberty from female competitions.
Gibson, who works in London as a consultant, could not be reached for comment.
A Cambridge University Boat Club spokesman said it followed guidance from British Rowing in 2015 and continues to do so.
