Outrage as transgender woman Melody Wiseheart, 50, competes against TEENAGERS in Canadian swim meet ‘and shares changing room with terrified girls’
- Furious parents claim their young daughters were disturbed by Melody Wiseheart's participation in the Trojan Cup in Barrie, Ontario
- The event was sanctioned by Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario
- Wiseheart is a college professor who focuses on the behavioral sciences of children
A 50-year-old transgender woman has sparked backlash among parents after competing in a swimming competition against teenage girls in Canada.
Furious parents claim Melody Wiseheart shared a dressing room with their young daughters at the Trojan Cup in Barrie, Ontario, which took place between December 1 and 3 and consisted of age groups from eight and under to 16 and over.
Wiseheart, a professor at York University, attended the meet at the East Bayfield Community Center and competed in several events, including the 1500-meter freestyle for women ages 16 and older, where she placed second.
The parent of one of the children who attended the rally told the Toronto Sun that “the girls were terrified.”
They claimed parents used towels to set up a makeshift tent to protect the girls who had to change for Wiseheart.
Furious parents claim Melody Wiseheart shared a dressing room with their young daughters at the Trojan Cup in Barrie, Ontario
They claimed parents used towels to set up a makeshift tent to protect the girls who had to change for Wiseheart, seen wearing an orange swimming cap at the meeting earlier this month
The event was sanctioned by Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario, who issued a statement to the Toronto Sun defending Wiseheart's participation.
They said: “In partnership with Swimming Canada, Swim Ontario has a robust system of policies, procedures and rules that support our member clubs in providing a competitive experience that is safe, welcoming and inclusive for all participants.
'Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario believe that swimming is for everyone… people of all shapes, sizes, genders, beliefs and backgrounds should have the opportunity to swim to the best of their ability… with the expectation that our registrants will treat each other with respect and dignity, and keep our sporting environment free from harassment and abuse.”
Wiseheart, formerly Nicholas Cepeda, has reportedly been competing against girls since 2019.
Her research at the University of York focuses on ageing, behavioral sciences in children and young people.
DailyMail.com has contacted Wiseheart for comment on this story.
The story is just the latest source of outrage among young female athletes and their parents, who say it's not fair for them to have to compete against trans women.
Last month, a Seattle high school student spoke to DailyMail.com and blasted her state's track and field association for allowing a transgender athlete to “take a girl's place.”
The freshman says she and her teammates have no problem with the trans athlete's identity; they just don't want to compete against her.
Despite widespread fear of speaking out against trans athletes in sports, female athletes have begun organizing to fight what they say is discrimination against women.
Wiseheart has reportedly been competing against girls since 2019. Her research at the University of York focuses on ageing, behavioral sciences for children and young people
In October, the Roanoke College Women's Swim Team held an event with activist Riley Gaines and ICONS, demanding that the NCAA and US Swimming stop allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports.
The case has strong echoes of that of Lia Thomas, who last year became the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship.
“I started swimming competitively when I was seven years old,” junior Susanna Price told the crowd. 'This year was the first year of my life where swimming was emotionally draining. Knowing that biological males are allowed to participate in sports has been the most disheartening experience of my life.”
Sophomore Carter Satterfield said, “We call on the NCAA to protect female athletes and grant us fair play in sports – in every sport. We call on US Swimming to recognize that girls at every level deserve to know they are valuable enough to receive a fair race.”
“I started swimming competitively when I was seven years old,” junior Susanna Price told the crowd. 'This year was the first year of my life where swimming was emotionally draining. Knowing that biological males are allowed to participate in sports has been the most disheartening experience of my life.”
Sophomore Carter Satterfield said, “We call on the NCAA to protect female athletes and grant us fair play in sports – in every sport. We call on US Swimming to recognize that girls at every level deserve to know they are valuable enough to receive a fair race.”