In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of having a genderqueer in the sport of gymnastics. We discuss the benefits and disadvantages of being a trans woman or a trans man in gymnastics, and whether or not a transgender man should be allowed to compete in the women's division of the sport.
00:00:00.000So what about for, I'm just interested in if the same worry and concern would apply for transgender people who have gone from female to male, because then it would be surely on the basis of your philosophy, it would be a disadvantage for the trans man to go up against cis men, you know.
00:00:21.440And I think that, I just think it should be fair because, you know, like if a trans man was to go against a cis man, and bearing in mind the trans man has, again, transitioned late in his life and has gone through female puberty, yeah.
00:00:36.040I don't know if they're going to be at the same level as a cis man, but does it mean that they can't participate?
00:01:48.780But when it comes to, like, floor exercise, and also I see it the other way around as well.
00:01:55.260A trans woman would not have an advantage because she's going to be taller.
00:01:58.160For example, when you're doing beam, having smaller feet is an advantage.
00:02:02.640And being shorter, men struggle on the beam.
00:02:05.740That's why they don't do it as a thing.
00:02:08.180Like, men and women's gymnastics is pretty different.
00:02:11.440There's only, like, a couple of shared disciplines within the two, which is vault and floor.
00:02:17.020The bars are very different for both because they're adapted.
00:02:20.620So, like, flexibility is the biggest one in gymnastics, and women are more flexible than men.
00:02:25.600So, if being shorter is a benefit, and being more flexible is a benefit, then it makes sense that trans men would be able to compete in gymnastics.
00:02:32.440Maybe there's specific things in gymnastics, but I still think biological men, biological women, to avoid all this confusion.
00:02:40.940Because by that logic, then the women would go into the men's league, and then they would be at an advantage.
00:02:46.180My gut is telling me the guys would still win, but, you know, I could be, I don't know, gymnastics like that.
00:02:53.780So, in gymnastic, would you say that the spots where both men and women have, like, the same, like, disciplines, would you say the women are more athletic or better gymnasts than the guys?
00:03:35.040No, no, gymnastics is not about flexibility.
00:03:37.120Flexibility is something you need to do gymnastics.
00:03:39.360Gymnastics is about pulling off skillful manoeuvres.
00:03:42.780Yes, so, like, flexibility and, so if you're short, which women tend to be shorter than men on average, you're able to do more rotations on floor exercises than you are as a man.
00:03:55.220But you just listed, like, you just listed a couple with the rings, you said rings, bar.
00:04:00.600Yeah, rings, trans men would probably struggle.
00:04:03.200Yeah, but the whole, the whole point, it doesn't even really matter because if you're saying women have the advantage, then, then it would just be vice versa.
00:04:09.880So I'm saying to avoid the confusion, it should just be biological men, biological women.
00:04:13.940I understand that it's like, it feels good to simplify things that way.
00:04:17.640And it's not necessarily a wrong opinion to have.
00:04:20.960I will say, like, although trans women are a protected class, and, you know, I'm pro-trans, I'm not anti-trans in any way at all, so are women.