Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan, the only transgender athlete competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, slammed recent reports alleging that he wanted fellow boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting “banned.” On the contrary, the Filipino athlete doubled down on Imane and Lin’s “unquestionable” female identities.
A number of false claims have circulated since last week, alleging that Hergie, who partook in the women’s boxing events at the Olympics in Paris, France, wanted Team Algeria’s Imane and Team Taiwan’s Lin banned from the competition.
“I want to clarify and address the recent claims circulating on the internet regarding my involvement in the controversy about my two co-boxers,” Hergie exclusively told Bored Panda in an email.
He continued: “To set the record straight, I have never made any statements suggesting that they should be banned from the Olympics.
Team Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan is the only transgender athlete competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Image credits: hergiebacyadan
Image credits: hergiebacyadan
Imane and Lin faced ruthless bullying, especially on social media, with misinformation spreading about their identities, over the past week.
False claims that Imane and Lin were transgender women with physical advantages were fuelled on Thursday (August 1), after Italy’s Angela Carini quit just 46 seconds into her round-of-16 bout with Imane.
Hergie slammed recent reports alleging that he wanted fellow boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting “banned”
Image credits: Focus Taiwan (CNA English News)
After the Algerian landed the first clean punch of the fight, Angela immediately turned to her team and opted against continuing, and the Italian soon collapsed to her knees in tears.
The 25-year-old Italian could reportedly be heard telling her coach, “It’s not right, it’s not right,” and she later told reporters that she had never been hit so hard in her career.
Angela subsequently refused to shake Imane’s hand after she was announced as the winner in Paris.
On the contrary, the Filipino athlete doubled down on Imane and Lin’s “unquestionable” female identities
With several notable transphobic figures using the fight to further controversy, the International Olympic Committee clarified that both Imane and Lin complied with entry requirements, were cisgender women, and condemned any misleading information harming the athletes.
Transgender means one’s gender identity is different from the gender that the doctor gave them when they were born, based on the way their body looked. That label is called “sex assigned at birth” — usually “male” or “female.”
Meanwhile, when a person has the same gender identity as the sex the doctor assigned them at birth, they are considered to be “cisgender” — like a man who was assigned male at birth or a woman who was assigned female at birth.
Image credits: hergiebacyadan
“I am fully aware that these two athletes are cisgender women,” Hergie told Bored Panda. “I have met them personally, and they are unquestionably women, fully qualified and deserving of their place in the competition.”
The boxer, who lost against China’s Li Quan in the 75kg class on Wednesday (July 31), continued: “The criticism they are receiving on social media is entirely unfounded and unjust.
“As a fellow athlete, I understand the pressures and judgments that come with the territory, but this level of unfounded scrutiny is unfair to them.”
Hergie has not undergone any hormonal replacement therapy or surgeries, proudly competing with an athletic and natural body
Image credits: hergiebacyadan
Hergie identifies as a transgender man, and as such, is the only transgender athlete who has competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Gender-affirming medical treatments and surgeries are available globally to help a transgender person with their often life-debilitating gender dysphoria. The treatments can help a person transition from one gender to another.
Nevertheless, Hergie has not undergone any hormonal replacement therapy or surgeries, proudly competing with an athletic and natural body he has worked hard to achieve.
“Regarding my own eligibility, I want to emphasize that I have adhered to all Olympic requirements and am biologically a woman,” Hergie explained. “Despite any misconceptions about my appearance or identity, my qualifications as a female boxer remain intact.”
Hergie echoed his statement on his Instagram page, where he has received support from the LGBTQ+ community.
“Born and raised female, I maybe navigated a world that assigned me a gender I do not resonate with,” the boxer said in a previous post on Instagram. “Despite being recognized as female by those around me, my story highlights the importance of self-identification and the need for supportive environments that honor one’s gender identity.”
News
Kerry Washington Leads All-Star Cast in First Teaser for Tyler Perry’s WWII Drama, ‘The Six Triple Eight’
Netflix has officially announced the release schedule for Tyler Perry’s highly anticipated WWII drama, The Six Triple Eight, starring Emmy winner Kerry Washington. The film will premiere in select theaters on December 6, followed by a global release on the…
Jasson Dominguez’s lightning-quick triple reminds us how much he could impact Yankees
Milwaukee Brewers v New York Yankees / Rich Schultz/GettyImages Here’s your friendly mid-week reminder that New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez isn’t your typical power-only physical freak. Like the hulking Spencer Jones, he also has a sprinting side. Yes, we…
Social Media Detectives Are Just Now Uncovering A Clue That Juju Smith-Schuster Was Trying To Tell Everyone He Was Joining The Kansas City Chiefs 3 Weeks Ago While Still With The Patriots
JuJu-Smith Schuster (Photo via New England Patriots/YouTube) Observant social media detectives uncovered compelling evidence indicating that JuJu Smith-Schuster knew well in advance that he was Kansas City-bound. While he was still with the New England Patriots, no less. The Patriots released JuJu Smith-Schuster on Aug….
Everyone Noticed Something Strange About Photo Of Saints QB Derek Carr Signing Autographs For Fans
Derek Carr (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) NFL fans noticed something interesting about Derek Carr and New Orleans Saints fans while he was signing autographs for them. Derek Carr is entering the second season of a lucrative four-year, $150 million contract he signed with New Orleans…
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Offers Firm Statement On His Political Beliefs After Wife Brittany Publicly Endorsed Donald Trump
Patrick and Brittany Mahomes and Donald Trump (Photos via Getty Images) Folks expecting a political endorsement by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes better not get their hopes up. Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, made headlines last week when fans noticed she “liked”…
VIDEO: Connor Stalions Exposes Former Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh For A Gift He Gave Him For His Sign-Stealing Performance After A Big Game
Connor Stalions and Jim Harbaugh (Photos via UnnecRoughness/Instagram) Connor Stalions was the focal point of a Netflix documentary, “Untold: Sign Stealer,” which was released on Netflix. It appears Connor Stalions had a big hand in the Michigan Wolverines’ 2022 win…
End of content
No more pages to load