Alicia Paans, a transgender athlete, will compete in the 2024 National Collegiate Club Water Polo Championships for the second time. The 31-year-old is a member of the Michigan Wolverines women's water polo club team.
Alicia Paans, a transgender athlete, is set to compete in the 2024 National Collegiate Club Water Polo Championships this weekend. This will be her second time competing in the tournament, after she helped the Michigan Wolverines win the championship in 2023.
Paans, who is also a women's chess champion in Michigan, has been a member of the Wolverines' club team since 2023. She has played a key role in the team's success, scoring multiple goals in games leading up to the championship.
In January 2024, the CWPA released its transgender athlete policy, which states that transgender women can participate in women's categories. The policy requires transgender athletes to provide a "letter of confirmation" to confirm their gender identity and proof of testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L within 60 days of competition.
Critics of the policy argue that transgender women have an unfair advantage over cisgender women, due to the physical advantages they may have from being born male. However, proponents of the policy argue that transgender women should be allowed to compete in the sport they identify with, and that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that they have an unfair advantage.
Paans has been the subject of social media backlash for her participation in the women's club championship. Some people have argued that it is unfair for her to compete against cisgender women, while others have defended her right to compete.
The Independent Council on Women's Sports found that Paans uses female locker rooms and facilities while competing. This has raised concerns among some parents of Michigan's opponents, who argue that it is unfair for Paans to have access to female-only spaces.
Despite the backlash, Paans remains committed to competing in women's water polo. She believes that she has the right to compete in the sport she loves, and that she is not a threat to cisgender women.
The National Collegiate Club Water Polo Championships will be held at Texas A&M this upcoming weekend. The Wolverines' club team will take on Texas State University in its first match on May 3.
