Filipino trans boxer Hergie Bacyadan took to social media to weigh in on issues of gender identity and respect in the world of sports.
In an Instagram post, the 29-year-old sportsperson emphasized the nature of each athlete’s journey, underscoring the physical and emotional demands of pursuing excellence in sports.
“I may look and feel different compared to others, but these differences are a testament to the hard work and determination I have put into my body and my sport,” Hergie wrote.
She continued, “My physique is not just a result of natural ability, but of countless hours of training, discipline, and perseverance.”
Bacyadan, who has also faced her own challenges in the sport, called for respect and understanding from the public.
“I do not seek pity or special treatment; my only request is for RESPECT! Respect for my JOURNEY, my CHOICES, and my unwavering COMMITMENT to MY PASSION!” she asserted.
She highlighted the importance of self-identification and the need for supportive environments that honor one’s gender identity.
“Born and raised female, I maybe navigated a world that assigned me a gender I do not resonate with. Despite being recognized as female by those around me, my story highlights the importance of self-identification,” Bacyadan shared.
She urged her followers to adopt empathy and open-mindedness, stressing the significance of acknowledging athletes’ rights to pursue their dreams in their own way.
“Understanding my path may require empathy and an open mind, but at the core, it is about acknowledging my right to pursue my dreams in my own way!” Bacyadan declared.
Concluding her post with a powerful message, Bacyadan called for an end to hatred and a push towards kindness, “STOP THE HATE, BE MORE KIND!”
The 29-year-old athlete proudly represented the LGBTQ+ community at the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside other Pinoy bets, Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Aira Villegas.
Despite identifying as a transman, Hergie was allowed to compete in the women’s division as she hasn’t undergone hormone replacement therapy or gender surgery, Freeman Sports reported.
Unfortunately, Bacyadan’s Olympic debut ended early with a unanimous decision loss to China’s Li Qian on Wednesday.
Hergie’s social media post came amid the ongoing controversy involving her fellow athlete, Imane Khelif of Algeria, who has faced scrutiny over her gender identity.
Questions about the gender identity of the Algerian boxer resurfaced after her disqualification from a women’s global event last year for failing a “gender eligibility test” reportedly due to the presence of XY chromosomes in her DNA, sports news site SPIN reported.
However, Khelif was later cleared by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and eventually in the women’s 66-kilogram and 57-kilogram matches at the Paris Games as well.
The debate intensified when Italian boxer Angela Carini quit her match against Khelif less than a minute in, who threw two strong punches to the Italian’s nose which started bleeding profusely.
After Carinis’ defeat in the ring, she refused to shake Khelif’s hand and broke down in tears, and later explained in an interview that she “quit” 46 seconds into the match to “preserve her life”.
“I’ve never taken a punch like that, it’s impossible to continue. I’m nobody to say it’s illegal. I have never been hit so hard in my life. It’s up to the IOC to judge,” a tearful Carini told reporters post-fight.
A day after airing her reaction to her defeat, Carini expressed regret and apology for not shaking Khelif’s hand and stating she respects the IOC’s decision to allow Khelif to compete.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” SPIN quoted Carini’s statement in an interview with Italian sports outlet Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision,” adding that she is also sorry for failing to shake her opponent’s hand.
“It wasn’t something I intended to do,” the Italian Olympian clarified, “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.”
Khelif recently beat Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori by unanimous decision in a welterweight quarter-final at the Paris Games on Saturday, August 3, clinching Algeria’s first Olympic boxing medal since 2000.
