Aussie trans golfer receives death threats after winning women’s title – as famed Olympic swimmer accuses her of cheating
- Golfer Breanna Gill received death threats online
- Tracked trans athlete to win Australian Women’s Classic
- Former Olympic swimmer accused her of cheating on Twitter
- Sharron Davies tweeted that Gill was ‘stealing women’s prize money’
A trans golfer has revealed she has received a number of death threats online after winning the Australian Women’s Classic title.
Breanna Gill, 42, lifted the trophy after winning a play-off at the prestigious Bonville course on NSW’s north coast on April 2.
Her elation quickly turned to desperation after receiving dozens of abusive anti-trans messages — including death threats — on her social media accounts, which she later closed due to security fears.
Gill has been playing professionally in women’s tournaments for eight years – and her victory on the greens at Bonville was her first title win on the professional circuit.
Karen Lunn, chief of the WPGA Tour of Australasia, raved about Gill.
Transgolfer Breanna Gill was all smiles after winning the Australian Women’s Classic title on the north coast of NSW on April 2
Gill’s mood soon soured as she received a number of death threats via social media – and former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies (pictured) later accused her of cheating on Twitter
Davies – a well-known anti-trans activist – tweeted that Gill ‘stole the prize money from women’
Gill did have some support on social media, with this fan calling the “transphobic pile very sad.”
It’s the biggest win of her life. It’s really sad that she can’t celebrate that win,” she said after the online backlash.
“Everyone is concerned for her well-being… it’s obviously a very difficult time.”
A tweet from the WGPA toasting Gill’s win was also later deleted.
The WPGA has welcomed transgender players since 2004, a policy enforced by all seven major international women’s golf tours, according to the The Sydney Morning Herald.
The policy requires athletes to have successfully undergone sex reassignment surgery, undergo hormone therapy for at least 12 months, and also provide legal documents recognizing their new gender.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies – a well-known anti-trans activist – later tweeted her belief that Gill was cheating.
This is cheating when you allow someone with a known male physical advantage to steal prizes and prize money from women that should be theirs!
“It’s sex discrimination and shameful inequality in sport, a physical activity.”