RM The debate over fairness, gender identity, and transgender inclusion in competitive sports.

In June 2025, an unexpected moment at the Cornwall County Masters Championship in England ignited a national conversation about transgender inclusion, fairness in sport, and personal dignity.

Anne Isabella Coombes, a 67-year-old transgender woman and lifelong swimmer, entered her race wearing only men’s swimming trunks and no top. Competing in the “open” category against male swimmers, her decision immediately drew attention and controversy, transforming an otherwise quiet masters swimming event into a flashpoint for debate.

Coombes, who has been swimming for more than six decades and represents the Reading Swimming Club, transitioned during the COVID-19 lockdown at the age of 62. Before recent policy changes, she was permitted to compete in the women’s category after meeting extensive eligibility requirements, including hormone suppression, medical assessments, and formal interviews. In 2023, she achieved notable success, placing second at a masters event in Sheffield, behind an athlete who set a European record.

However, by 2025, Swim England’s updated transgender and non-binary policy left her with limited options. The rules reserve the female category exclusively for athletes assigned female at birth, citing the need to protect competitive fairness. Transgender women, non-binary athletes, and male swimmers are instead directed to the “open” category. Faced with these regulations, Coombes was forced to either race in the open category or withdraw from competition altogether.

Swim England has defended its policy as a balance between inclusion and equity, arguing that the physical advantages associated with male puberty—such as greater muscle mass, lung capacity, and bone density—can persist even after hormone therapy. Supporters of the policy believe sex-based categories remain essential in sports where physical performance matters.

Coombes strongly disagreed with both the policy and its enforcement. While officials required her to compete in the open category, she was reportedly advised to wear a women’s swimsuit to cover her chest, citing rules around “good moral taste.” To her, this created a contradiction: she was treated as male for competition purposes but expected to present herself according to female dress standards.

She described the situation as humiliating and illogical, noting that wearing a women’s swimsuit among male competitors would immediately identify her as transgender. Her protest was carefully planned and nonverbal. By swimming topless in men’s trunks, she followed the dress norms applied to open-category competitors while exposing what she viewed as the absurdity of the rules.

“I want equality,” Coombes said, emphasizing that transgender athletes are not dominating women’s sports. She argued that her own performance history demonstrates the lack of any competitive threat and added that she would support further discussion if evidence of unfair dominance ever emerged. For now, she maintained, the issue has been exaggerated.

Reaction to the protest was sharply divided. LGBTQ+ advocates and supportive media outlets praised Coombes for highlighting what they see as discriminatory policies. Some described her action as a creative and courageous challenge to regulations that marginalize transgender athletes and erase their identities. Supporters also argued that masters competitions—recreational events for adults over 25—do not require the same strict eligibility rules as elite sport, particularly for older athletes who transitioned later in life.

Critics, however, viewed the protest as inappropriate and attention-seeking. Gender-critical commentators argued that exposing her chest during competition violated standards of decorum and distracted from legitimate discussions about fairness in women’s sports. Some online reactions mocked the incident, claiming it weakened the credibility of inclusion arguments rather than strengthening them.

The controversy reflects broader tensions across the sporting world. International bodies such as World Aquatics and UK Athletics have adopted similar sex-based eligibility policies, often pointing to scientific research suggesting that certain physical advantages are not fully reversed by hormone treatment. High-profile cases in other countries have further intensified public scrutiny.

Coombes and her supporters counter that sweeping restrictions unfairly target transgender athletes without clear evidence of widespread harm, especially at non-elite levels. She has called for more nuanced solutions, such as flexible categories or individualized assessments, that respect both competitive integrity and human dignity.

Now, months later in early 2026, Swim England continues to stand by its policy, while debate remains unresolved. For some, Anne Isabella Coombes’ swim has become a symbol of resistance against exclusion. For others, it highlights the difficulty of reconciling biology, identity, and fairness in sport.

What is clear is that her protest has left a lasting impact, reminding sports organizations that behind every policy decision are real people whose lives and identities are deeply affected.