1. Fair play is not prejudice
Several detrans women say the loudest argument they hear—“trans people just want the same chance to play”—ignores the reason women’s sport was invented in the first place. They remind us that female divisions were fought for so that bodies that went through male puberty would not decide every podium. One athlete, who still trains daily, puts it bluntly: “If you’re knocking medal contenders out of position or taking people’s Olympic placement, we better be a lot more sure about that than we are right now.” – cranberry_snacks source [citation:216bf640-9e4a-4aa1-8363-9f6418a292dc]. To them, protecting a women-only space is not hatred; it is the same logic we use for age-classes or weight-classes—keeping competition meaningful for everyone.

2. A third space protects both sides
Instead of erasing women’s divisions, many detrans competitors propose an open or “all-gender” category. They say this lets every athlete chase personal bests without forcing females to shoulder safety risks or lost scholarships. One martial-arts teacher explains: “There should be a third all-gender category… AFAB women deserve to have teams and spaces that are just for them.” – KindAddition source [citation:56d1f744-8192-4f6c-8a06-5d506e5335f6]. The idea is simple: keep the women’s race, add an open race, and let each person decide where they fit.

3. Personal ethics can outweigh medals
Some detrans women admit they still carry muscle memory or heart-lung capacity from years on testosterone. Rather than exploit that edge, they walk away. One cyclist says she asked herself: “If you knew in your heart that you maintained an unfair advantage would you… use it against other women who have been clean and trained hard their whole life… or would your moral values dictate you to step back?” – Liquid_Fire__ source [citation:0aafacc4-de12-4c03-8949-52e2ec962836]. Their choice shows that self-respect and sisterhood can feel more victorious than any trophy.

4. Numbers don’t lie—co-ed podiums erase females
Detrans athletes often cite public results to show how wide the post-puberty gap is. In the Paris Olympic cycling time-trial, the women’s gold medalist would have placed 28th among the men, almost three times farther behind the male winner than she was ahead of her nearest female rival. “If she was competing with the men she would have got 28th position… almost three times as far behind.” – cranberry_snacks source [citation:216bf640-9e4a-4aa1-8363-9f6418a292dc]. They argue that pretending the gap doesn’t exist turns every women’s final into a consolation heat.

5. Insisting on women’s categories is seen as “malicious” when alternatives exist
Several posters feel the push to enter female divisions—while rejecting an open category—reveals that the goal is validation, not simply sport. One woman writes: “They’re not content with equal participation under a special category… they specifically want to participate in women categories as women. It’s infuriating. How is that not malicious?” – vsapieldepapel source [citation:fd12e11a-1879-416c-ba84-3c0b04256549]. For them, refusing a workable compromise shows disregard for the very people women’s sport was created to protect.

Conclusion

Detrans voices remind us that sport is about more than inclusion slogans; it is about safety, honesty, and the joy of testing your body against peers of the same sex. They invite every questioning athlete to consider non-medical paths—open categories, personal ethics, and honest conversation—that let all of us play, compete, and win without erasing anyone else’s chance to do the same.