A disc golfer refused to compete against a trans opponent, sparking debate just days after a fencer faced similar punishment.
A recent incident in the world of sports has sparked a heated debate.
Abigail Wilson, a female disc golfer, refused to compete against a transgender opponent, Natalie Ryan, during a tournament in Tennessee.
This refusal came just days after a similar situation occurred in fencing, where a female fencer faced consequences for her actions against a trans competitor.
Female disc golfer refused to play trans opponent days after similar incident in U.S. fencing match
Abigail Wilson was preparing to play when she suddenly decided to leave the competition.
Before walking away, she made a statement to the crowd. She declared, “Females must be protected, I refuse to play.” Many spectators applauded her decision, showing support for her stance.
Afterward, Wilson shared her thoughts on social media, expressing the seriousness of her choice.
In her post, she mentioned that she might have jeopardized her career by refusing to compete. However, she believed that standing up for her beliefs was more important.
Wilson said: “Today I most likely ended my career, but this is bigger than me.”
Wilson stated, “I have worked so hard to get to this point… but the sacrifice of my career is worth it if it means I can make a difference for other women.”
Wilson emphasized her desire to protect women’s sports.
She encouraged others to speak out about the participation of transgender women in female divisions.
She expressed her concerns about biological males competing against women, urging people to take a stand.
Wilson wrote: “If you feel how wrong it is to have biological males be competing in female protected divisions in sports, now is the time to speak up and stand your ground.”
She also mentioned her anxiety about competing against a trans player, citing past protests and threats of violence at similar events.
“I took this stand today because I was having anxiety about playing with the openly trans player on tour because of the planned protests for this year and the threats of violence at the event last year.”
Response from the Disc Golf Pro Tour
The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) responded to Wilson’s protest with a statement.
They supported her right to express her views but clarified that no rules were broken during the incident. The DGPT welcomed Wilson back to compete whenever she chose.
Despite this support, Wilson faced backlash online. Many criticized her stance, arguing that “trans women are women.”
Similar incident in fencing
The controversy surrounding Wilson’s decision was amplified by a recent incident in fencing.
Female fencer Stephanie Turner took a knee during a match against trans fencer Redmond Sullivan.
She misgendered Sullivan during interviews, which led to her being punished and removed from the competition.
This incident also raised questions about gender identity in sports and how athletes should address these issues.
Footage of Turner’s actions went viral, drawing millions of views online.
Many viewers expressed mixed feelings about the punishment she received.
Some believed that her actions were justified, while others felt that they were harmful and disrespectful.