Parkrun blasted for allowing men to ‘smash women’s records to smithereens’

Parkrun has come under fire for allowing men who claim to be women to put record-breaking times “out of female hands forever”.

The community group, which publishes the results of each run by sex, admits that course records are based on “self-declared gender”.

But Olympic marathon runner Mara Yamauchi warned that one woman’s record has already been “smashed to smithereens by a trans-identifying male” and is probably “out of female hands forever”.

‘Unkind’

Fiona McAnena, Sports Director at Fair Play for Women, criticised the suggestion that Parkrun’s policy does not matter because it is not a race or athletic competition.

“If the course record matters enough to put up on a website it matters to the woman who has got it. There’s a lot to love about Parkrun but they’ve got this wrong.

“They are taking away women’s chances to be first in their age category and first in their sex class. That’s not inclusive, that’s not kind.”

A Parkrun spokesman defended the policy, saying “we believe that our current solution is the most appropriate available at this time.”

Awards

Earlier this year, biological men received women’s rewards during Women’s History Month. In one instance, ESPN honoured Will Thomas, known as Lia, for his contribution to women’s sport. Will Thomas competed for three seasons on the men’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the women’s team.

He dominated the Ivy League female swimming category and swam to victory in the women’s 500-yard freestyle race at the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines who competed against Thomas said it is a “denial of the most basic of truths” and part of a wider problem in society that goes “deeper than just sports”.