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It was a day in Olympic history.
After the International Olympic Committee updated its policies to prevent biological males from competing in women’s sports, several Olympians have come forward to give their reactions to the change.
Several Olympians, including gold medalists, have shared their thoughts on the new policy with Pakinomist Digital.
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Kaillie Humphries, triple Olympic gold medalist female bobsled athlete for the United States and Canada
U.S. Olympic bronze medalist bobsleigh athlete Kaillie Humphries presents the Order of Ikkos to U.S. President Donald Trump during a Women’s History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Each year, March is designated as Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)
“Today is a great day for women’s sports and a great victory in the Olympic world. By implementing the gender test, it will allow for fair competition. It used to happen many years ago, and by bringing it back, it will protect the women’s category. I think it is very appropriate that LA28 will be the games to protect women’s sports, as this is something that our president told Pakinomist Humphries.
Donna de Varona, triple Olympic gold medalist women’s swimmer for the United States
President Ronald Reagan with Donna De Varona while speaking to the Women’s Sports Foundation. (Getty Images)
“With the election of Christie Coventry and Olympic champion and her decision to appoint another woman to lead the medical commission. It was informative that the IOC decided to go outside to reach scientists to base this opinion on science and justice. And it is the right decision,” de Varona told Pakinomist Digital. “Real science and research is how this decision was based. I mean, I fundamentally believe that everyone should have an opportunity in sport, but in the Olympic arena it’s a zero-sum game.”
MyKayla Skinner, US silver medal gymnast at Tokyo 2020
Mykayla Skinner of Team United States poses with the silver medal after the Women’s Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Center on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“The best news! About time!” Skinner told Pakinomist Digital.
Katie Uhlaender, American skeleton athlete, five-time Olympian
Katie Uhlaender of the United States competes during the Women’s Skeleton Race Heat Three on Day 2 of the 2025 IBSF World Championships at Mt. Van Hoevenberg on March 7, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
“This is huge for women’s sports. For years, female athletes have been asking for clarity, consistency and fairness in competition. Not politics. Not ambiguity. Just clear standards that protect the integrity of the category we train our entire lives to compete in. Sports only work when the rules are applied consistently and athletes can trust them,” Uhlaender told Pakinomist Digital.
“Progress doesn’t come from avoiding tough conversations, it comes from facing them with courage. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, who protected women’s sports.”
Tyler Clary, American gold medalist swimmer at London 2012
American swimmer Tyler Clary celebrates winning gold in the men’s 200m backstroke final at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 2, 2012 in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP)
“This is a long-overdue return to common sense, and the IOC deserves credit for taking a clear stand. At the elite level, fairness is important — and protecting the women’s category based on biological reality is critical to preserving it,” Clary told Pakinomist Digital.
“As an Olympian, I did not dedicate my life to competing on a rigged playing field – one tilted and disguised as inclusion. Women’s sports exist because biological differences matter – strength, power and muscles developed through male puberty do not erase, and pretending otherwise erases us. Justice is not allowing little girls to be lost, dreams of gold not controversial.”
Maciej Czyzowicz, Polish Olympic gold medal pentathlon at Barcelona 1992
Poland Pentathalon gold medalist Maciej Czyzowicz (Courtesy of Maciej Czyzowicz)
“Better late than never. This decision by the IOC is a big step in the right direction. After all, it has long been known that you cannot change your gender, and if someone is born a man, then even if they start wearing women’s clothes, they will still remain a man. Also, there are significant differences between the two sexes in terms of strength and speed, which puts a female deterrent from FoxadvanczzyC. Digital.
“So clearly it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. Additionally, in some sports it simply would not be safe. I believe this decision protects women’s sports, specifically by preventing transgender athletes from competing against biological females.”
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Inga Thompson, American female cyclist, three-time Olympian
“If men are allowed to compete in women’s sports, women will eventually be erased from ever having opportunities to even compete at the Olympic level. You will have two categories in the Olympics. DSD/trans and the men’s category. Gender testing worked very well and was non-intrusive. A simple buccal cheek poke once in your life,” Thompson told Pakinomist.
Nancy Hogshead, three-time US Olympic gold medalist swimmer
Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead (Courtesy of XX-XY Athletics)
“Playing sport is a human right. Today’s IOC announcement reaffirms this principle of inclusion and diversity. All athletes must compete in their category; their weight, age, ability category and now their gender category. On behalf of women in sport, thank you for your leadership, IOC,” Hogshead said in a statement.
Martina Navratilova, women’s tennis legend and 2004 Athens Olympian
Former Czech tennis player Martina Navratilova receives the golden racket during the Italian tennis nationals at the Foro Italico. Rome (Italy), 21 May 2023. (Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
“Welcome news today from the IOC. People who adopt different gender identities, such as transgender, gender non-conforming or others should have the same human rights as other citizens and protected from discrimination as long as no gender-based rights are compromised,” Navratilova said in a statement.
“This is what the gay, lesbian and bisexual community fought for over decades. Today’s IOC decision recognizes that gender issues and women’s sex-based rights in Olympic sports must take precedence over gender-based identities.”
Giddeon Massie, American men’s cyclist, two-time Olympian
“There is really little to commend the IOC’s woefully slow decision. It should always have been a very simple and basic logical conclusion, unequivocally grounded in God’s design of male and female,” Massie told Pakinomist Digital.
“Our female Olympic and Paralympic athletes are working too hard to have their dreams of achievement quashed by a man’s self-delusion of reality. Unfortunately, the battlegrounds remain wide among grassroots and recreational sports arenas, and young ladies everywhere must continue to be contested, now and in the future.”
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Carrie Englert Zimmerman, American female gymnast in Montreal 1976
“Finally, the International Olympic Committee showed some balls and chose justice over fear. As an Olympian, I did not dedicate my life to competing on a rigged playing field – one tilted and disguised as inclusion,” Zimmerman told Pakinomist Digital.
“Women’s sports exist because biological differences matter – strength, power and muscles developed through male puberty are not erased, and pretending otherwise erases us. Fairness is not controversial. Let little girls dream of gold – don’t allow those dreams to be lost or tarnished.”
