A 50-year-old transgender swimmer was allowed to compete with teenage girls at an event in Canada — with terrified parents building makeshift tents out of towels to protect girls as young as 8 in the locker room.
Melody Wiseheart, who once competed under the name Nicholas Cepeda, sparked outrage while competing during the Trojan Cup in Barrie, Ontario.
“The girls were terrified,” the parent of one of the teenagers, who was not identified as having to share a locker room with an older trans swimmer, told the Toronto Sun.
“It’s all very confusing for the kids,” said another parent. “No one is comfortable.
“Everybody accepts everybody, but them swimming against our kids and being in the locker room with them is not appropriate.”
Wiseheart, a professor at York University, took part in several events at the event over the first three days of December, including the women’s 1500m freestyle for athletes aged 16 and over, in which she finished second.
He has reportedly been competing with girls since 2019.
Melody Wiseheart, 50, used to compete under the name Nicholas Cepeda. Melody Wiseheart/Linkedin
Wiseheart was also seen entering the locker room before the event, and at least one concerned parent said they contacted local police.
The Barrie Police Department admitted to the Sun that they were “subsequently advised that the matter had been resolved on its own and we were not present.”
But parents say they still have questions about the incident.
“The girls were terrified,” one parent said of Wiseheart (above) sharing a pool and locker room with girls. RebelNews
“We don’t know why it’s allowed,” one parent said of Wiseheart competing with the girls.
“We know it’s not fair to the girls who train in their sport and some of them hope for a scholarship.”
In a statement, Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario — which sanctioned the competition — defended Wiseheart’s participation.
“In partnership with Swimming Canada, Swim Ontario has a robust system of policies, procedures and regulations that support our member clubs in providing a safe, friendly and inclusive competitive experience for all participants,” the organization said.
It stated that Swim Ontario “investigated concerns related to adults competing with swimmers aged 12 – 14 during a recent competition hosted by the Richmond Hill Aquatic Club” and determined that “RHAC acted appropriately, in hosting the competition.”
The organization explained that athletes are selected according to the time of entry, regardless of their age,
It also says that access to locker rooms “is determined by facility/municipal policy in accordance with applicable law.”
“Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario believe swimming is for everyone … people of all shapes, sizes, genders, beliefs and backgrounds should have the opportunity to swim to the best of their ability … in the hope that our registrants treat each other with respect and dignity, and ensure our sports environment is free from harassment and abuse.”
“This is crazy,” one parent said in response. “None of this adds up.”
World Aquatics, the sport’s international governing body, effectively banned male-to-female transgender athletes from competing in women’s events last year after updating its policy to allow only swimmers who transitioned before the age of 12 or in the early stages of puberty.
The Post has reached out to Wiseheart for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
