The anticipatory excitement surrounding what would have been the inaugural ‘open category’ swimming races at the World Cup this weekend has ebbed away after plans for the landmark event were cancelled. World Aquatics announced on Tuesday that they had not received any entries for the event, scheduled to begin on Friday in Berlin.
In a significant shift from past practices, swimming’s oversight institution, formerly recognized as FINA, had opened doors to transgender competitors, who were, until then, barred from participating in major events such as the Olympics and world championships. An integral part of last year’s ‘gender inclusion policy’ adaptation during the Budapest world championships, the open category was a commitment towards creating an undiscriminating platform for all swimmers.
Part of a pilot initiative, this groundbreaking category was poised to be launched with 50-metre and 100-metre races in the German capital. However, with these races now off the cards, the historic debut of this inclusive category will have to wait.
Yet, hope is definitely not lost. The working group at World Aquatics persists in their commitment to the open category. As they put it, even in the absence of a current demand at the elite level, their focus remains on exploring the future feasibility of including such events in Masters tournaments.
Despite a return to the drawing board, the goal stays the same: a broader, all-encompassing representation in aquatic sports. The open category aims to set a new precedent; a stepping stone to a more inclusive future that is yet to be made. A future where the focus will entirely be on the sport and the spirit of competition, for swimmers of all backgrounds, affiliations, and identifications.
