Two transgender cyclists took home gold and silver at the women’s cycling event in Chicago — sparking new controversy as only one biological woman made it to the podium.
Tessa Johnson, 25, won first place in the Women’s Single Speed and Half Cat categories at the Chicago CycloCross Cup (CCC) on October 7, while Evelyn Williamson, 30, finished second in the Single Speed competition.
Their efforts left only one biological woman on the podium for the Single Speed race — Allison Zmuda.
For her success in the women’s Cat Half, Johnson won $150, and Williamson received $75 in prize money for finishing fourth.
Records show Williamson has raced in the women’s category since at least 2017, winning 18 titles.
But in 2020, she appeared to compete in both the men’s and women’s categories at the Sky Express Winter Criterium, where she won first place as a woman — but didn’t place against the men.
The annual event features over a dozen different races and openly welcomes trans riders.
“If you’ve found your way to a CCC event to race your bike and hopefully have fun in the process… then you’re welcome here,” organizers said on the website.
X/@i_heart__bikes Tessa Johnson, 25, won the Women’s Single Speed race at the Chicago CycloCross Cup, while Evelyn Williamson, 30, was second.X/@i_heart__bikes Johnson also won the women’s Cat Half race.X/@i_heart__bikes
“The CCC has always been first and foremost about fostering a positive and supportive community built around competitive cyclo-cross racing, and that means welcoming and challenging everyone who wants to contribute to the series and make it better,” he said.
“Discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, affiliation of a sports team or any other stupid idea put forward by someone to belittle another will not be tolerated. accepted. .”
Williamson and Johnson previously won the Racing-Athletic Relay Cruise in Chicago on Aug. 27, competing under the team name “TS-Estrodolls,” a reference to estrogen-taken transgender women.
Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson beat competitors at the Illinois State Women’s championship.X/@i_heart__bikes
They then won the Illinois State Championship in Madison.
Tessa Johnson won $150 in prize money for placing first in the Cat Half category on October 7. Evelyn Williamson walked away with $75 in prize money for placing fourth in the Cat Half category.
Former track and field coach Linda Blade is among those calling out race organizers for allowing riders to compete in the women’s category.
“@USAcycling race organizers need to stop calling this a ‘women’s event’. You are not fooling anyone,” he tweeted. “This is the ‘beta-male race’ where some women can get involved.”
“In the process, you make your ‘sport’ a joke.”
Other X users tweeted: “Women need to start boycotting this toxic masculine circus.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
