A Balanced Dive: Transgender Athletes in Swimming
Transgender students' participation in high school and collegiate sports has become a topic of significant discussion in recent years. To understand the reality of this issue, it's crucial to examine the facts and statistics surrounding transgender athletes in educational settings.
Prevalence and Policies
The participation of transgender athletes in high school and college sports remains notably low, despite the significant attention this topic has received in recent years. According to a study by the Human Rights Campaign, only 24% of LGBTQ+ youth engage in school athletics, a stark contrast to the 68% participation rate among all youth. For transgender students specifically, the percentage involved in competitive sports is even smaller, highlighting a significant disparity in athletic involvement.
At the high school level, transgender athletes are estimated to comprise less than 1% of all student-athletes, a figure that underscores their minimal representation in school sports. The situation in collegiate sports reveals an even more pronounced scarcity of transgender participation. Approximately 30 transgender athletes compete openly at the college level, a remarkably small number when considering the vast landscape of collegiate athletics.
To fully grasp the scale of this disparity, it's crucial to compare these figures with the overall number of student-athletes in collegiate sports. NCAA records from the 2021-22 academic year indicate that over 520,000 student-athletes participated in NCAA championships sports (DI, DII, and DIII). Furthermore, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) sees about 60,000 student-athletes competing annually, while the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) involves around 83,000 student-athletes. When considering these numbers collectively, openly transgender student-athletes represent an incredibly small fraction—less than 0.00005 percent—of the total collegiate student-athlete population.
This minuscule percentage serves to challenge perceptions of widespread participation by transgender athletes in collegiate sports. It's worth noting that these figures only account for athletes who openly compete as transgender, and the actual number may be slightly higher due to those who choose not to disclose their status. Nevertheless, the data clearly indicates that transgender participation in high school and college sports remains exceptionally rare, contrary to the level of public discourse surrounding the issue.
Varied Landscape of Transgender Athlete Participation
As of 2025, the landscape of transgender athlete participation varies widely across the United States. Twenty-seven states have adopted policies that categorically exclude transgender youth from sports participation consistent with their gender identity. Conversely, fourteen states and Washington, D.C. have policies affirming equal opportunity for transgender students to participate in all K-12 school sports consistent with their gender identity. At the collegiate level, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been grappling with its policy on transgender athlete participation. As of 2024, the NCAA's policy allows transgender athletes to compete, provided they adhere to sport-specific guidelines. However, NCAA President Charlie Baker has stated that there are fewer than 10 transgender athletes he is aware of who currently compete in college sports out of approximately 500,000 NCAA athletes.
Performance and Fairness
The debate surrounding transgender athletes' performance and fairness in sports is complex and ongoing. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, UK Parliment Post, and Outsideonline.com amongst others note:
Limited research: Studies on transgender athletes' performance advantages are scarce and often inconclusive.
Physiological considerations: Some research suggests that transgender women may retain certain physical advantages even after hormone therapy, particularly in strength-based activities.
Sport-specific variations: The potential advantages or disadvantages for transgender athletes can vary significantly depending on the specific sport and its physical requirements.
Testosterone suppression: The effectiveness of testosterone suppression in eliminating performance advantages is debated, with some studies indicating that it may not fully negate all physiological differences.
Ongoing scientific review: Sports organizations and researchers continue to study the issue, acknowledging the need for more comprehensive and sport-specific data to inform policies.
Impact on Transgender Students
Participation in sports can have significant effects on transgender students. Research published by Columbia University, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) amongst others indicate:
Mental health benefits: Sports participation is associated with higher self-esteem, lower depression rates, and greater school belonging among LGBTQ+ students, including transgender youth.
Barriers to participation: Transgender students often face obstacles such as feeling unsafe in sports-related spaces and experiencing discrimination.
Lower participation rates: Studies show that transgender youth participate in sports at much lower rates than their cisgender peers.
Psychological impact: Exclusion from sports can exacerbate mental health challenges already prevalent among transgender youth, including increased risks of depression and anxiety.
Identity affirmation: For many transgender students, participating in sports aligned with their gender identity is crucial for self-affirmation and social integration.
Policy effects: Inclusive policies are associated with better mental health outcomes and increased participation, while exclusionary policies can have detrimental effects on transgender students' well-being.
Swimming: A Case Study
In high school swimming, policies regarding transgender athlete participation mirror the broader national landscape. As of 2025, 16 states (including D.C.) have inclusive policies that allow transgender students to compete based on their gender identity. However, 27 states have adopted restrictive policies that exclude transgender youth from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. These disparities can significantly impact transgender swimmers' ability to compete and feel included in their school teams. For instance, in states with inclusive policies, transgender girls may be allowed to swim on girls' teams after meeting certain criteria, while in states with restrictive policies, they may be forced to compete on boys' teams or not compete at all.At the collegiate level, swimming has been at the forefront of the transgender athlete debate. In January 2022, the NCAA updated its policy to align with each sport's national governing body. For swimming, this initially deferred to USA Swimming's guidelines. However, USA Swimming subsequently announced new rules for elite swimmers in February 2022, requiring transgender women to maintain a testosterone level below 5 nanomoles per liter for at least 36 months before competition. Despite these changes, the NCAA declared it would not adopt USA Swimming's new limits for the 2022 winter championship, allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete. As of May 2024, the NCAA is reportedly considering banning transgender women from five sports, including swimming and diving, starting in the 2024-25 season. This ongoing policy evolution demonstrates the complex and evolving nature of transgender participation in collegiate swimming.
Conclusion
The issue of transgender students in high school and collegiate sports, particularly in swimming, is complex and multifaceted. While the number of transgender athletes is relatively small, the policies and regulations surrounding their participation vary widely across states and institutions. As research in this area continues to evolve, it's important to consider both the potential impacts on competitive fairness and the well-being of transgender students. The case of swimming illustrates the challenges faced by sports governing bodies in balancing inclusivity with perceived fairness. Ultimately, finding a balance that ensures equal opportunities for all students while maintaining the integrity of competitive sports remains a challenge for educational institutions and policymakers alike.