Austin Killips Responds to Trump’s Critique of Trans Athletes

CHICAGO, Ill. — Transgender cyclist Austin Killips has publicly responded to comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports. In an op-ed published earlier this month, Killips criticized the president for using her as an example of what he termed ‘invading’ women’s sports while failing to provide meaningful support to female athletes.

During a speech in early February, Trump referenced Killips in relation to the new executive order titled ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sport,’ which aims to restrict male participation in women’s athletic events based on gender identity and testosterone levels. He stated, “Last year, a male cyclist posing as a woman competed in the 800-mile Arizona Trail Race – and obliterated the women’s course record by nearly five and a half hours.” Killips, a 29-year-old cyclist originally from Chicago, argued that her achievement should be recognized for its merit, not conflated with political narratives.

“He’s right: I did snag the record from Alex Schultz, who had previously bested the record held by Lael Wilcox,” Killips wrote in the piece for The Guardian, emphasizing the co-ed nature of events like the Arizona Trail Race where competitors are judged on overall performance.

Killips noted that while her record garnered attention from niche cycling publications, it did not lead to the financial sponsorships or institutional backing that are often crucial for professional athletes. Her wins, she argued, have instead fueled a culture war narrative, overshadowing the lack of resources and support for women athletes as a whole.

“Transgender people lost the inclusion battle in sport ages ago,” Killips lamented. She pointed out that governing bodies across various sports have been under pressure to implement exclusionary policies against trans athletes, thereby further marginalizing them. In July 2023, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) introduced new guidelines barring transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in women’s categories, citing concerns about competitive fairness.

As Killips continues to navigate her career in cycling, she highlighted the dire conditions for women in the sport, mentioning the recent closure of pivotal institutions like the Joe Martin Stage Race and DNA Pro Cycling, the oldest women’s professional team in the United States. “For women looking for a team or a race that could potentially catapult their careers forward, things are the worst they have been in the last decade,” she added.

She continued, “These remarks always come in good faith, but as a means of contrasting us against the men – who usually have enough money and support thrown behind them to make a living as athletes – they speak to the sad state of affairs in women’s sport.” Killips argues that despite the focus on trans athletes, there remains a significant gap in funding and recognition for female athletes overall.

Killips concluded her response by questioning the motivations behind the attention on trans participation in sports. “Maybe you take umbrage with trans people in sports, and in turn me. But if you care about women’s sports… you need to ask yourself why, at this historic moment, the loudest voices in the room have built a movement that culminated in these executive orders stripping funding away from women in sport,” she stated.

As the conversation around this complex issue continues, Killips remains dedicated to her racing career while advocating for the broader recognition and support women athletes deserve.