Story by S. Salmaan •12h ago – 08-11-23 – for msn.com

Na Hwa-rin, a 37-year-old cyclist from South Korea, went viral after making a resounding statement about fairness and inclusion in sports. Here’s the full story.

She Knew She Was a Female

Born as a biological male, Na was raised in a Christian family but knew since the age of 7 that she should have been born a female.

Her Dream Came True

Last year, after her transition, Na’s gender identity was legally recognized by the South Korean government, enabling her to pursue her lifelong passion for cycling as a woman.

Her Goal

In June, Na secured victory at the Gangwon Sports Festival.

Unlike typical competitive cyclists, Na raced not to bask in the spotlight of victory, but rather to challenge a prevalent discourse in the world of sports.

She Wanted to Stir Controversy

She said, “I have no unresolved feelings over winning because that’s no longer what I want. My goal was to stir controversy and get my story heard by competing,”

Despite her victory, Na confessed to feeling a sense of relief rather than triumph.

Her Criticism

“I am not proud of myself at all. I believe other transgender athletes would feel the same way. They may not want to admit it, but they’re being selfish. There is no honor as an athlete in that,” she told a local news media.

She Believes in Fairness for All

Na’s perspective is shaped by her belief that honor in sports extends beyond individual achievement and encompasses the broader principles of respect, fairness, and harmony

She Was a Fierce Competitor

Before her transition, Na had already made her mark as a fierce competitor, earning medals in men’s races, some of which she achieved while undergoing hormone therapy.

Include Third Gender Category

She utilized her moment on the podium to call for the inclusion of a “third gender” category in athletic competitions, similar to weight divisions in various sports.

She said, “It could be like how we have many weight divisions in some sports … Under the current binary system, women athletes will be discouraged, and their hard work might not be recognized due to the participation of transgender athletes.”

Her Reasoning

She reasoned that such a category would not only level the playing field for transgender athletes but also ensure that the hard work of female athletes is duly recognized and appreciated.

Her call for a “third gender” category is not just a solitary plea. Na envisions it as a stepping stone towards greater acceptance and inclusion.

A Diverse Environment

She firmly believes that lowering the barriers to participation will encourage more transgender athletes to pursue their athletic dreams, ultimately leading to a fuller and more diverse sports landscape.

This is No Honor

“Trans woman athletes, no matter how hard they worked, will never be truly honored for their wins. Honor is the goal that all athletes aspire to attain, but this is a situation where nobody will be honored. I think that shouldn’t happen,” she added.

Trans Athletes Have an Advantage

Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident.

One Twitter user wrote, “It isn’t healthy for society and individuals to deny the obvious fact that Trans athletes have an advantage over female athletes. A third category for trans athletes would acknowledge this and once again make sport fair for everyone.”

Another User wrote, “I never thought a Trans athlete would speak the truth and acknowledge his physical advantage.”