How hard is it to know if an elite athlete is a woman? (Read 2189 times)

    This thread reminds me of the SNL sketch featuring Pat. I could find no suitable video, so...

     to confuse this issue further, take a look at this vid.

    Ricky

    —our ability to perform up to our physiological potential in a race is determined by whether or not we truly psychologically believe that what we are attempting is realistic. Anton Krupicka


    Right on Hereford...

       

      I think it's pretty clear that if Semenya turns out to be a man, she will also be surprised. So, it wouldn't be right to call her a "cheat," even if she is disqualified.

       

      I agree it wouldn't be right to call her a cheat, regardless of the test results. I do believe she's been raised as a female and believes herself to be female.

       

      But, the tests are supposed to show whether an athlete is "entirely female." If she doesn't pass this test, it doesn't mean she's a man. She may very well turn out to be neither. Or both. Or something else.


      #artbydmcbride

         

        Runners run

        jpnairn


        straw man

          This thread reminds me of the SNL sketch featuring Pat.

           Here's almost 4 minutes from "It's Pat!" the movie.

          He who has the best time wins. Jerry

          jpnairn


          straw man

            What I don't want to see is "womens" sports becoming a competition amongst the world's most athletic transexuals.

            Apologies to all transexuals I may have upset.

            He who has the best time wins. Jerry

              INCgirl ...

              For real ... some valuable insight.

              For not so real: I'm diggin your avatar singlet.


              Imminent Catastrophe

                Sit him/her down and make him/her watch "Beaches". Watch his/her reaction. You'll know.

                "Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

                 "To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain

                "The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

                 

                √ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015

                Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016

                Western States 100 June 2016

                zoom-zoom


                rectumdamnnearkilledem

                  Sit him/her down and make him/her watch "Beaches". Watch his/her reaction. You'll know.

                   

                  You are the wind beneath my wings...

                  Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                  remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                       ~ Sarah Kay


                  Imminent Catastrophe

                     

                    You are the wind beneath my wings...

                     OK, you're a chick.

                    "Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

                     "To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain

                    "The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

                     

                    √ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015

                    Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016

                    Western States 100 June 2016

                    zoom-zoom


                    rectumdamnnearkilledem

                       OK, you're a chick.

                       

                      Well, I never really liked that movie or most chick-flicks...but I do look good in a corset (unlike the runner in question, I assume), so I have that going for me... Tongue

                      Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                      remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                           ~ Sarah Kay


                      Imminent Catastrophe

                        We'll never know without pictures. Just sayin'.

                        "Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

                         "To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain

                        "The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

                         

                        √ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015

                        Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016

                        Western States 100 June 2016

                        zoom-zoom


                        rectumdamnnearkilledem

                          We'll never know without pictures. Just sayin'.

                           

                          Can I just have DH vouch...? Big grin

                          Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                          remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                               ~ Sarah Kay

                          AmoresPerros


                          Options,Account, Forums

                             

                            Can I just have DH vouch...? Big grin

                             

                            Yes. Post a photo and below it a copy of his voucher.

                            It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.

                            Purdey


                            Self anointed title

                              Now that women are starting to win some of the longer ultras outright....

                               

                              I think that any man who places in the top 3 should be tested to prove that he is, in fact, 100% male.  Coz if he were female he would have an unfair advantage in the longer races.

                               

                               


                              Hey, nice marmot!

                                Purdey's got a point.  I read somewhere that women do have an advantage at very long distances.  I think it has something to do with fat stores.  Maybe, I'm not sure.

                                 

                                As for Semenya, I don't think she has a chance.  Fact of the matter is that she improved her 800m time by 8 seconds since last October.  But worse than that, she's just beaten the world's best by more than 2 seconds at the ripe old age of 18.  Someone else already said it.  If she's allowed to compete, then no one else wins for at least the next 10 years.  I don't see that being allowed to happen.

                                 

                                When someone comes onto the world stage and dominates that much, they'd better be bulletproof, because people will come out of the woodwork to take them down.  Look at Bolt.  He barely crossed the finish line before people started talking about steroids.

                                Ben

                                 

                                "The world is my country, science is my religion."-- Christiaan Huygens