A transgender fencer has finished second in a tournament just six months after taking up the sport, beating out female rivals who had been competing for years.
Annika Rose Suchoski, 39, competed against some of the best female fencers from the United States and Canada at the Fortune Fencing Regional Championships this month in Ontario.
The impressive athlete finished in second place, behind experienced fencer Meghan Pinchuk, who was undefeated in the competition.
Suchoski’s medal finish sparked outrage online, with commentators saying the fact she came second so soon after picking up the sport suggested she had biological advantages enjoyed by male fencers.
The aspiring athlete began her transition in 2018 and underwent surgery in 2022.
She finished second (left) behind veteran fencer Meghan Pinchuk, who was undefeated in the competition
Annika Rose Suchoski competed against some of the best female fencers from the United States and Canada at this month’s Fortune Fencing Regional Championships
“Strength, height and reach are probably advantages in fencing,” one critic said.
‘Longer, greater reach, much more upper body strength.’
Others called her a “cheater” for signing up for the women’s division.
Suchoski, who competes in the Utah-Southern Idaho division, was thrilled with her win, describing it as a “tough, but also very fun match.”
“I started in February and immediately fell in love with it,” she said.
Suchoski was very happy with her victory and described it as a ‘tough, but very nice competition’
‘It’s very difficult, but I have a great coach who is a two-time world champion and is going to Dubai in a few months to go for her third title.
‘Through her I’ve had the opportunity to work with Olympians and international and national champions. Lots of great experience and teachers.’
Suchoski earned a place in the veteran women’s race, finishing 25th out of 55 competitors in a separate women’s race that same weekend.
It was her first fencing tournament since she started the sport.
It comes a few months after Liz Kocab, another transgender fencer, won her eighth world title at the age of 71.
Kocab won the FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships in Florida in October, sparking outrage in the community.
It was her first fencing tournament since she took up the sport
Suchoski’s medal finish sparked outrage online, with people questioning whether she should be allowed to compete in the women’s competition
Swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines said Kocab was a “cheat” by competing in the women’s division.
“Liz Kocab (male) wins her 8th World Fencing Championship…in the women’s category,” Gaines said.
‘Winning a title as a man in the women’s category doesn’t make you a champion. It makes you a privileged cheater.’
Fencing USA, the sport’s official governing body, has previously said its support for non-binary and transgender athletes in fencing is “both a moral and ethical imperative.”
She began transitioning in 2018 and underwent surgery in 2022
USA Fencing announced its policy regarding transgender and non-binary athletes in November 2022.
CEO Phil Andrews said at the time: “It is vital that we protect the rights of non-binary and transgender athletes in fencing.”
‘While we plan to conduct further scientific research into the physiological effects of gender reassignment, specifically related to the sport of fencing, we remain unanimously and steadfastly supportive of the place of transgender athletes in fencing.
“To be clear, even as this issue continues to evolve, our support for transgender athletes will not diminish.”