News about Emily Bridges

American runner Nikki Hiltz, 29, (left) and Canadian footballer Quinn, 28, (centre right) both of whom identify as transgender and non-binary, are in France for the world's greatest festival of sport. But swimmer Lia Thomas is out of Olympics after losing a legal battle last month and New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard , the the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the last Olympic Games, is also absent. Laurel was one of four trans athletes at Tokyo 2020. British trans cyclist Emily Bridges had hoped to aim for a spot in the Paris Olympics. But after British Cycling barred transgender women from competing in the female category in 2023, she says she has given up on competing at the elite level. Thomas, Hubbard and Bridges (pictured from top to bottom, right) all transitioned from male to female after the age of 12, which means they are now ineligible. Nikki Hiltz and Quinn identify as transgender and non-binary. But both were born women and are competing as women, so therefore are eligible to represent the US and Canada respectively.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will officially begin on Friday with the Opening Ceremony in the French capital city. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stressed the Games are marking a historic first, with equal male and female athlete representation for the first time. A much debated issue in recent years, however, has centred around the participation of transgender athletes in sport - particularly concerning women's events.

TV presenter Barker (pictured left) has revealed she agrees with fellow former tennis ace Martina Navratilova (top right), saying that 'young girls' dreams' are at stake. Nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Navratilova has been one of the most vocal opponents of allowing transgender female competitors to take part in women's sports - describing them as 'failed male athletes'. She has now been backed by Barker, 73, who won the French Open in 1976 and went on to present the BBC's Wimbledon TV coverage for 30 years until 2022. Her comments come following controversies over transgender female participants such as US swimmer Lia Thomas (bottom right), Welsh cyclist Emily Bridges and Dutch darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

After a trans cyclist win a bronze medal in a race in the United States, Olympic medalist Sharron Davies said, "100s of males are stealing from females in sport." Davies has spoken out against transgender people competing in women's athletics. On Monday, the former swimmer replied to a social media post announcing that transgender cyclist Catherine Barnwell had won a bronze medal at the Brumble Kermesse Road Race in Rhode Island.

Since an image of trans athlete Cece Telfer competing in a women's hurdles race was shared online, former Olympic medal winner Sharron Davies has called it 'cheating.' Telfer, a male, became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championship in 2019 and was competing in the Women's Invitational 60m hurdles in Boston in February. She had qualified for the finals of the competition, placing fifth in the preliminary rankings, but she would disqualify herself in the final.

The athlete had hoped to participate in the Paris Olympics this summer but then realized that part of her life 'is now', adding that competing is 'not something I want to do anymore'. Miss Bridges, 23, was given the opportunity to compete in the 'open' category alongside other transgender athletes, both male and female. However, the cyclist has confirmed that she would not feel safe competing with men, and that transgender people should not have to 'out' themselves to compete.

After being injured and threatened by transgender athletes, women and girls around the country are abandoning sports, as a troubling study shows. Testimonies from 25 different fields explore how girls as young as 12 have been forced to share changing rooms with biological adult males who identify as women. The 28-page study describes how some women and girls have dislocated and broken bones after being forced to compete against much heavier and muscular transgender athletes.

According to a former marathoner, Parkrun's policy of encouraging runners to self-identify their gender could push women out of elite athletics. Mara Yamauchi (right); left with Sharron Davies), a former British Olympic runner, said that the weekly 5km race was giving women and girls' "an appalling message" by encouraging transgender contestants to compete as females. Every Saturday morning, a free event takes place at parks and athletics courses around the country. However, it has emerged at the center of a controversy over unfairness in sport due to its conflicting entry laws.

A former British marathoner has warned that parkrun's policy of encouraging runners to self-identify their gender could push women out of competitive sports. Mara Yamauchi, a two-time British Olympian runner, said the weekly 5km race was sending "an appalling warning" to women and girls by allowing transgender contestants to compete as females. The free festival, which takes place at parks and athletics courses around the country every Saturday morning, has found itself at the forefront of a controversy about fairness in sport due to its contentious entry laws. According to a bombshell study by the Policy Exchange, three female Parkrun records are now held by runners who were born biologically male.

I'm not sure what planet Vogue bosses are living on if they really believe they are aiding women by including transgender cyclist Emily Bridges in their line up of 'powerhouse' females. It's simply revolting, and I suspect every other sportswoman who's had to fight her way to glory in a world so skewed in men's favour is the same. Let's keep this short. This is not about transphobia; it's about being fair to women. Emily has absolutely nothing against her. We've been to athletics, and many of the young women I train knew her before she transitioned. She was both gifted and inspiring, and her coworkers were supportive of the process. However, portraying Emily as a 'powerhouse' woman is inaccurate on every level. Vogue is embroiled in cynical wakery, honoring Emily for her name rather than her achievement.

The transgender cyclist (left) who caused outrage after being featured in Vogue's top 25 'powerhouse' women (top inset) has vowed to 'fight in the courts and the streets' against female athletes. Emily Bridges (right) was refused from participating in the women's category of the bike race by British Cycling. However, the athlete caused backlash after being listed in the fashion magazine's most influential list yesterday, years before sportswomen like the Lionesses.

The former 60-year-old (left) has come under fire for speaking out against male-born athletes who identify as female in sport, and she has been branded "every name under the sun" by outraged trans activists. It came after Davies, who competed in 12 Olympic Games in her career, endorsed the decision to ban trans cyclist Emily Bridges (right) from racing against female riders because "we are physically different people." Following this abuse, she told the Off Air podcast that she was abused in the aftermath: "Just activists ringing every single charity, ringing my children's schools, insulting my children, and calling me every name under the sun." 'I am a bigot, I'm a homophobe, and obviously a transphobe,' says the woman. I'm also a bigote, which I find amusing because I have mixed-race children.'

Sixty-nine percent of Americans agree that transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform to their birth gender, the first time the survey was conducted, when 62 percent of Americans felt this way. In the same way, just 26% of Americans endorse the prospect of transgender athletes playing on teams that match their current gender identity - down significantly from 34 percent two years ago.

Austin Killips, 27, who identifies as transgender, was a winner in the women's category of a cycling tour in North Carolina this weekend, five minutes ahead of second place. Killips, a biological male, has been competing in women's cycling since 2022, and she was able to establish a lead in the 137-mile run. Paige Onweller, the runners-up, was honoured during a post-race interview, but she admitted that her 'power is not comparable' to that of Killips. During a 2008 race, Killips was accused of attempting to compel female cyclist Hannah Arensman off the racing track. Arensman's decision to retire early from the sport at the age of 24 after she explained how competing against male cyclists in women's events had become disconcerting.

The former swimmer, who was outspoken critic of trans athletes competing against women, endorsed the decision not to prohibit Bridges from racing against female riders because "we are physiologically different people." Following her attempts to compete against females last year, the British cyclist has been at the forefront of the ongoing debate after being ranked as male at the junior level. However, British Cycling changed their current male category to a 'open' category, where transgender people can compete against other male-born riders, while the female category will be reserved for those who were female at birth. Ms Davies, a LBC reporter, said: "I don't think Emily Bridges should be allowed to compete with women." Absolutely, I believe she should be able to participate, and it's also crucial that we make all sports inclusive.

SARAH VINE: Call me old-fashioned, but if a male colleague told me that the clothing I was wearing was 'appropriate' my figure, I'd be extremely delighted. I might think it a little fruity - but what's wrong with that? It's just a compliment if the individual doesn't overstep the mark or appear threatening. What's not to like? This is apparently all. In fact, telling a woman that looks nice in a dress is now a sin, as such an unconstitutional act of rampant, predatory sexism that can result in the removal of a man. And it has.

Following British Cycling's decision to outlaw transgender people from competing in female athletic competition, a leading women's sports lobby group has claimed that previous policies for trans women competing in women's sporting categories to ensure fairness are 'complete nonsense.' The governing body's decision is likely to change their existing men's category to a 'open' category, in which transgender people can compete against other male-born riders, while the female category will be reserved for those who were female at birth. The policy, which is expected to go into place at the end of 2023, would apply to all competitive activity and put pressure on the sport's international federation, the UCI, to establish their own regulations on the controversial topic.

The cyclist (left and right), who set a national junior men's record over 25 miles in 2018, said British Cycling has homophobic coaches and compared bosses to Nazis, who reportedly had to consider an exit plan from this horrific island.' The British Cycling Association will expand their current male category to a 'open' category, where transgender people can compete against other male-born riders, while the female category will be reserved for those who were female at birth. Emily Bridges' desire to compete for Great Britain or Wales in women's events comes to an end, and it puts pressure on the UCI, the international federation, to tighten their own laws. In a scathing Instagram post on Wednesday, she condemned the rule changes, branding British Cycling a "failed group" and describing the decision as a "violent act." In what could be described as a thinly-veiled assault on a number of female riders who were allowed to compete, including one with Dame Laura Kenny last year. 'We've been banned from racing,' she said. They have no right to regulate this discussion anymore.' Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you shouldn't be concerned less.

DAVID COVERDALE: Transgender people are forbidden from competing in the female category at all events in order to'safeguard the fairness of competition.' Emily Bridges, a transgender rider who was hoping to compete in women's races, has been banned from competing in the national governing body's new legislation, which also has pressure on the UCI's international federation to tighten their own guidelines. British Cycling will advance their current male category to a 'open' category, where transgender people can compete against other male-born riders, while the female category will be reserved for those who were female at birth.

DAVID COVERDALE: When British Cycling announces their new policy later this month, they may be the first governing body to prohibit transgender people from participating in female sports. The UCI, the sport's world governing body, now accepts male riders into the women's category who have cut their testosterone levels over a two-year cycle. Since Austin Killips, an American trans woman, won the Tour of the Gila in the United States last week, those laws have been criticized this week. Following the controversy surrounding Welsh trans rider Emily Bridges' race against Laura Kenny before she was barred, British Cycling's own participation policy has been suspended since last April.

Since a male-born rider won an international women's road race over the weekend, cycling's transgender norms have been criticized. Austin Killips, a transgender woman, won overall in the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, USA, an elite race sanctioned by the sport's world governing body, the UCI. In the general classification, the 27-year-old American came 89 seconds ahead of Italian Marcela Prieto and also claimed the Queen of the Mountains jersey. Sharron Davies, a former British Olympic swimmer, (inset), told Mail Sport, "This is beyond sad." Those in charge should hang their heads in shame. The UCI is not designed for use.'

Prominent British female Olympians have leapt out of World Athletics and protested their opposition to volatile new transgender policies. Women should not be allowed to compete against transwomen due to biological advantage, according to well-established Team GB actress Beth Dobbin and Emily Diamond, as well as up-and-coming runner Ellie Baker.

ROBERT DINEEN: Olympic chiefs have released a'monumental' series of transgender hints to 'preserve' fairness in elite women's sport. Allowing trans women to compete in women's categories has dominated a burgeoning conflict, with high-profile cases including US swimmer Lia Thomas and British cyclist Emily Bridges being the object of intense debate. Leading female athletes, such as former swimmer Sharron Davies and cyclist Nicole Cooke, were heavily chastised for approving new guidelines 13 months earlier that stated that trans women aspiring to compete in the female category should have "no presumption of advantage."

Emily Bridges, a Welsh rider, had hoped to compete at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year but was denied from doing so. Emily (right and inset) confirms she hasn't given up on the possibility of competing internationally as a woman. Danny Baker, 35, (left), who is believed to be the first transgender boxer to compete against cisgender people in a professional competition, has spoken out against the controversy. Emily is upset, but she says you should give testosterone and oestrogen therapy 'time to work,' because he has learned why Emily is upset, but that you do have to wait for testosterone and oestrogen therapy.' 'At this point, I can understand why officials aren't opening the gates purely because she was only hired a year ago,' she said.