World Aquatics to debut 'open category' races for transgender swimmers

World Aquatics has announced that it will debut a new ‘open category’ to accommodate transgender competitors at a World Cup event in the German city of Berlin.

Swimming's international governing body voted last year to restrict participation of transgender athletes in elite women's competitions and create a working group to establish an open category.

In a statement released this week is advised “this pioneering pilot project highlights the organisation’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity, welcoming swimmers of all sex and gender identities.”

Explaining how its gender inclusion policy will be implemented, World Aquatics President, Husain Al-Musallam stated “when World Aquatics instituted its Policy on Eligibility for the Men's and Women's Competition Categories, we committed to exploring the creation of an open category.”

The open category at the Berlin event - scheduled to take place from 6th to 8th October - will make its debut with 50-metre and 100-metre races across all strokes.

More events could be added. Participants will need an affiliation with a national federation, but will be given the flexibility to race individually, for their club or federation.

Welcoming the hosting of the new category, Kai Morgenroth, Vice President of the German Swimming Federation, commented "Berlin is thrilled to champion this groundbreaking initiative with the full endorsement of the German Swimming Federation.”