A new report has revealed that male-born athletes identifying as women have claimed an astonishing 1,941 gold medals in women’s sporting events across the United States since the 1980s.
The wins have essentially displaced thousands of biologically female athletes and siphoned nearly half a million dollars in prize money from them through competitions.
The bombshell tally comes from a Concerned Women for America (CWA) report released this month which compiled data covering decades of athletic competition.
It suggests more than 10,000 female sports events in both amateur and professional fields have featured male-born participants competing, and winning in categories designated for women and girls.
‘For too long, trans-identifying males have displaced, disrupted, and injured women and girls in female sports categories,’ Penny Nance, CEO and president of CWA, said to The Christian Post.
‘Our research reveals the shocking truth of the matter – over 1,900 women have come in second place to men who claim to be women,’ Nance went on.
‘This is outrageously unjust. Women and girls must have sex-protected athletics under Title IX.’
In California alone, the report found that at least 521 female athletes were forced to settle for second place behind male-born competitors in medal events.
Lia Thomas, a male-born swimmer, competed in women’s events. Thomas is seen atop the podium after winning the 500 yard freestyle competition at the Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship at Harvard
AB Hernandez, center left, shares the first-place spot on the podium with Kira Gant Hatcher during a medal ceremony for the triple jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in May. Hernandez is a transgender high school junior
A map showing the number of gold medals lost to men by state
Nationally, those displaced women lost a total of $493,173 in prize winnings that instead went to trans-identifying male athletes.
While the controversy over transgender participation in women’s sports is not new, the sheer volume of data presented by the CWA has sparked fresh outrage and demands for sweeping reform.
The group’s findings add fuel to an already blazing fire stoked by Trump administration policies, recent NCAA reversals, and global scrutiny from the United Nations.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has already responded by updating its ‘Athlete Safety Policy’ to reflect Executive Order 14201, signed by Donald Trump earlier this year.
While the policy pointedly avoids using the term ‘transgender,’ it pledges to create a ‘fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.’
CWA president Nance called the move ‘a notable step,’ but warned it might not be enough.
‘It’s a win for women, as it is inherently unfair for biological men to compete against women in any sport. Now, other national governing bodies (NGBs) must do the same.’
The Trump administration has made the issue a defining plank of its second-term agenda.
Reese Hogan, 16, takes to the podium after coming in second place in May. Despite setting a new personal record for herself she was beaten by junior trans athlete AB Hernandez
In January, Sadie Schreiner, a transgender athlete bragged about beating a group of biologically female athletes, despite wearing running shoes with the spikes about to come off
Schreiner’s win is one of a growing number of transgender athletes finding success in women’s sports, as experts warn they hold an unfair physical advantage due to the effects of male puberty
In 2022, Schreiner reportedly competed in the men’s category of the 100m and finished in 19th place
In February, Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,’ prompting immediate pushback from progressive states and praise from conservative advocacy groups.
By May, Trump was threatening to strip federal education funds from California after it failed to enforce the order.
Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled down, warning that states defying the mandate ‘could also face challenges by the federal government.’
The administration also filed a high-profile lawsuit against California’s Department of Education, arguing that the state’s policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ events were ‘illegal and unfair,’ and sent a message that ‘girls’ opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys.’
Earlier this month, the University of Pennsylvania reached a stunning agreement with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, concluding that it violated Title IX by allowing Lia Thomas, a male-born swimmer, to compete in women’s events.
The resolution included the revocation of Thomas’s titles and records, which will now be restored to the female athletes who were displaced.
Swimmer Riley Gaines (right) has become a vocal opponent of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, and has expressed her outrage at competing against 2022 NCAA Champion Lia Thomas (left). Thomas’s titles and records have since been revoked
Current and former athletes say trans athletes like Lia Thomas (left), the swimmer who enjoyed modest success in male categories before becoming a national champion in women’s events after she transitioned, highlight the physical advantages of trans women
Thomas, who had previously competed on the men’s team, became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I national title in 2022 after capturing gold in the 500-yard freestyle.
The decision marks a turning point in the Title IX debate, and a symbolic victory for female athletes who say they’ve been denied fair play and recognition for years.
While the CWA’s report focused on American competitions, the controversy has been echoed globally.
A separate study released by the United Nations last fall found more than 600 female athletes across 29 sports had lost more than 890 medals to male-born athletes.
UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem warned that policies enabling male-born participation in women’s categories resulted in ‘the loss of fair opportunity for biologically female competitors,’ and called the failure to protect the female category ‘one of the most egregious forms of violence against women and girls.’
Cece Telfer became the first openly trans woman to win an NCAA title when she placed first in the 400m hurdles at the Division II National Championships in 2019 (pictured)
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, pictured, was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics when she debuted at Tokyo 2020
Transgender athletes who have won gold medals in sporting events include Canadian cyclist Veronica Ivy became the first transgender cycling champion when she won gold at the UCI Women’s Masters Track Cycling World Championships in 2019, pictured
She pointed to numerous examples, including Canadian cyclist Veronica Ivy, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, and again, Lia Thomas, all of whom sparked worldwide debate for competing in women’s events despite being born male.
The issue is also exploding on college campuses. Earlier this month, the University of Nevada, Reno women’s volleyball team refused to take the court against San Jose State University, citing the presence of trans-identified player Blaire Fleming as a safety concern.
Nevada became the fifth team to forfeit a game against SJSU due to Fleming’s participation.
The NCAA, once a defender of trans inclusion, recently reversed course and announced it would comply with Trump’s executive order.
National governing bodies across sports are now under pressure to follow suit or risk losing federal funding.
The Trump administration has made the issue a defining plank of its second-term agenda. Trump’s order banning trans athletes from women’s sports has received a major boost
The CWA and other women’s advocacy groups are now urging Congress to codify these reforms in federal law. PIctured, People hold Save Girls Sports signs in protest of transgender athlete AB Hernandez in May
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee has reportedly complied with Trump’s order
Even USA Fencing, criticized earlier this year for allowing a transgender woman to compete against females, has since revised its rules, effective August 1, to ban trans women from female events allowing them only in men’s categories moving forward.
The CWA and other women’s advocacy groups are now urging Congress to codify these reforms in federal law.
The proposed Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act would bar the USOPC and NGBs from receiving federal funds if they permit male-born athletes to compete in female divisions.
‘The fight for women’s-only sports is not over,’ Nance insisted. ‘We need strong laws that uphold fairness, science, and the rights of every woman and girl.’