Meghan Cortez-Fields, a senior at New Jersey’s Ramapo College, recently made headlines by setting a new women’s record in the 100-yard butterfly at a Pennsylvania swim meet. Her record time of 57.22 seconds was 0.68 seconds faster than the previous record. Cortez-Fields also secured first place in the 200-yard individual medley.
Activist Riley Gaines Responds In response to Cortez-Fields’ achievement, anti-trans activist Riley Gaines wasted no time in expressing her opinion. Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, criticized the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, calling it an injustice. She argued that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports leads to the domination of female records by transgender individuals.
Ramapo College Defends Athlete Ramapo College issued a statement defending Meghan Cortez-Fields and affirming its commitment to NCAA policies. The school expressed support for all its student-athletes, including transgender individuals.
Cortez-Fields’ record-breaking performance reignites the ongoing debate over transgender athletes’ participation in collegiate sports, highlighting the complex and contentious nature of the issue.