Elon Musk calls for the tournament that allows biological men in female categories – the controversy explodes!
Billionaire Elon Musk, known for his controversial positions, has reached the debate on gender and sports again by publicly asking for an international swimming tournament that allowed the participation of biological men in female categories. In a series of X posts on Thursday night, Musk, which has over 200 million followers on the platform, said: “No biological man should compete in female categories. This is unfair and kills the spirit of sport! Boicotam this tournament now! ” The statement, marked with #Boycottswimtour, quickly reached 18 million views, triggering a wave of polarized reactions and rekindling a global discussion about equity in sports.
The tournament in question, the *Global Swim Championships 2025 *, held in Sydney, Australia, has adopted an inclusive policy that allows the participation of transgender athletes in female categories, as long as they meet the criteria of testosterone levels established by the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Among the competitors, American transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who had already been the target of controversy in 2022 by winning women’s competitions, returned to headlines by winning a gold medal in 200 meters, surpassing Australian Emma Carter for less than a second. Thomas’s victory, widely celebrated by LGBTQ+rights activists, was the trigger for the indignation of Musk and other critics that claim that biological men have innate physical advantages, regardless of hormonal treatments.
Musk, who had already expressed opinions contrary to the participation of biological men in women’s sports – as in 2024, when he criticized the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during the Paris Olympics – intensified his rhetoric. “It is a shame to see the female sports destroyed by ‘Woke’ policies that ignore basic science. Women deserve to compete on equal terms! ” Wrote Musk, echoing feelings of figures such as former American Nadadora Riley Gaines, who also asked the tournament a boycott. Gaines, who competed against Thomas in 2022 and since then became a prominent voice against the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sport, posted at X: “Elon is right. This is not inclusion, it is injustice. #Boycottswimtour. ”
The controversy exploded on social networks, with #boycottswimtour and #swimfairness trending globally. On the one hand, supporters of Musk and Gaines argue that biology gives biological men advantages such as greater muscle density and pulmonary capacity, even after gender transition. “Lia Thomas may have regulated testosterone levels, but she still has an male body that gives her an unfair advantage!” tweeted @sportstruth2025. On the other hand, advocates of inclusion, including organizations such as Human Rights Campaign, condemned Musk’s statements as transphobic. “This is pure prejudice disguised as a concern for sport. Trans athletes deserve to compete like anyone else, ”posted @transrightsnow.
FINA, which revised its policies in 2022 to require trans athletes to complete the transition before age 12 or maintain testosterone levels below 2.5 NMOL/L, defended the tournament. “Our rules are based on science and guarantee equity. Lia Thomas fulfilled all the criteria, ”said a Federation spokesman for the Guardian *. However, critics indicate that such policies do not address structural advantages, such as the average 5’10 ”stature of Thomas against 5’5” of female competitors, or their larger wingspan, factors that directly influence swimming performance.
The controversy gained even more strength when other public figures entered the debate. Former American President Donald Trump, a musk ally, posted at X: “I agree with biological elon-women’s sports is a scam. Let’s protect our athletes! ” Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, who had already congratulated Thomas for his achievements in 2022, asked for moderation, saying *CNN *: “We must seek a balance between inclusion and equity, but attacks like these only generate hatred.” Swimmer Emma Carter, who lost to Thomas, avoided direct criticism but told *Sydney Morning Herald *: “I gave myself everything, but it’s hard to compete when the rules seem so unequal.”
Musk’s boycott request is already impacting the tournament. Sponsors like Speedo and Omega face pressure to position themselves, with some X users threatening to boycott their brands. The hearing of the event, broadcast live, fell 15% compared to the expected, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. Anti-Trans activists plan protests on site, while pro-LGBTQ+ groups organize a vigil in support of Thomas, increasing the risk of confrontation.
Musk, who has a history of conservative positions on gender issues – as his criticism of the Woke Mind Virus ”regarding the transition of his transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson in 2022 – it is determined to maintain pressure. His political involvement, including Trump support and his role in the government as an efficiency counselor, adds a layer of power to his statements, but also attracts accusations of hypocrisy. Critics in the X point out that Musk, which has already been sued for questionable labor practices in their companies, such as Tesla, where women reported systemic sexism, has no moral authority to talk about equity.
As the controversy intensifies, the sport world faces a dilemma: how to balance inclusion and competitive justice in a scenario where science, politics and emotion collide. The * Global Swim Championships 2025 * may be a point of inflection, forcing federations to review their policies or face more boycott. Meanwhile, Musk’s voice continues to echo, further polarizing an already incendiary debate.
Be aware of X updates under #Boycottswimmour, while this global controversy unfolds.
