美国国家公共电台 NPR 跨性别游泳运动员参加女子游泳比赛引发“不公平”争议

Transgender swimmer's participation¹ on women's team ignites fairness debate

Transcript²

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas' record-breaking season represents a larger struggle: the argument over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete on women's teams.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Two transgender swimmers have become Ivy³ League champions. Yale University's Isaac Henig and Lia Thomas from the University of Pennsylvania broke records in the Ivy League championships, which wrapped up this weekend. Michaela Winberg from member station WHYY reports on these victories.

(SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING)

MICHAELA WINBERG, BYLINE⁴: Lia Thomas won three individual events at Harvard University's Blodgett Pool.

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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: And in first place, from the University of Pennsylvania, Lia Thomas.

WINBERG: Thomas is a transgender woman, and she competed on the men's team for her first three seasons. In 2019, while competing on the men's team, Thomas began to medically transition. She took testosterone blockers and estrogen. This season, the NCAA has allowed her to swim for the women's team. They've already announced the rules will be more strict next season.

At the championships, most people seemed supportive. Fellow swimmers congratulated Thomas with fist bumps, and the crowd cheered for her victories. Earlier this season, Thomas told swimswam.com what it's been like to compete as a trans woman.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

LIA THOMAS: I can continue to do the sport I love as my authentic⁵ self. And basically being in a swimsuit 20 hours a week has sort of helped me with accepting my body as it is and being proud and comfortable in my body and in who I am.

WINBERG: But some argue that because she was assigned male at birth, she has an unfair advantage. Just weeks before the championships, 16 anonymous⁶ teammates of Thomas wrote a letter to their school and the Ivy League saying they support Thomas in her transition, but they don't think it's fair for her to compete with cisgender women.

Peter Larsen was at the championships this weekend to support his daughter, who swims for Columbia University and competed against Thomas in multiple events. He says he has sympathy for Thomas.

PETER LARSEN: For Lia to be up on the blocks and looking around and all the world talking about her - that's such a huge burden on her, as well. And I think people have to remember that this young girl is dealing⁷ with a lot herself, and have some support there.

WINBERG: Joanna Harper researches trans athletic⁸ performance, and she's advised the International Olympic Committee on this issue. She believes that trans women likely maintain some advantage from going through testosterone-driven puberty. On average, they're taller and they have larger lung capacity. But when they receive hormone⁹ replacement¹⁰ therapy, Harper says trans women have testosterone levels similar to most cisgender women. And because they're taking estrogen, they're powering a larger frame with reduced muscle mass.

JOANNA HARPER: The important question is, can we have meaningful competition between trans women and cis women? And meaningful competition, you know, doesn't mean that there's not advantages. It just means that cis women can beat trans women.

WINBERG: At the Ivy League championships, Thomas wasn't the only trans competitor. Yale's Isaac Henig is a trans man who hasn't started hormone replacement therapy yet, so he can continue to compete on the women's team. He won the 50-yard freestyle.

Schuyler Bailar was there to support Henig and Thomas. He's a graduate of Harvard and was the first trans man to compete for a D1 men's team. At the championships, he held up a trans pride flag whenever Henig or Thomas swam.

SCHUYLER BAILAR: I really wanted them to see the support. I think, especially for Lia, who has seen so much negativity, so much vitriol, straight-up cruelty, I wanted her to feel seen.

WINBERG: Next month, Thomas is set to compete at the NCAA championships in Atlanta.

(APPLAUSE)

WINBERG: For NPR News, I'm Michaela Winberg in Boston.

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1 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

6 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

9 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

10 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。