Competitive sport

[IAmChris]

Just wondering if anyone is able to share their experience of participating in competitive sports, both before and after transition?

I have not yet started to transition medically, and one of my worries is how it will affect my ability to participate in sports with competitive selection - I may end up a lot happier with my body and how I am perceived, but unable to continue doing the things I enjoy most.

At the moment I am very much into rowing and compete in a ladies crew (this doesn't sit entirely comfortably with me, but I am too competitive to pass by on the chance to race). As soon as I start on T, I know that I would be unable to compete with the ladies. However, I have far from the ideal physique for a rower (very short, even by female standards, at 5'2") and I fear that I would never be able to raise my game enough to be selected for a men's crew.

I know that I could continue to row socially, but I really don't think I would get the same enjoyment from that - it is the being part of a team, training hard together and racing that really has me hooked on the sport.

[Mariah]

Hi Chris, Welcome to Susan's. I'm not sure on what affect it will have your ability to complete athletically. I'm sure someone else can answer your question though. I look forward to seeing you around the site. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah


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[Northern Jane]

That could be tough in a team sport! You may have to settle for 'recreational' or adult competition where the emphasis is on DOING rather than winning titles.

I was a figure skater as a teen but did not have the muscle mass to compete with the boys but was legally "male" so could not have competed in the women's division. I was in my 50s when the I.O.C. finally came down with a clear ruling on 'post-transition athletes' and I went back to figure skating. I am bigger and heavier than most of the girls (which is a HUGE disadvantage in figure skating) but I DID get to compete, twice at the National level, and have a National Bronze medal hanging on my wall! I would never have had a chance to win a national medal in the juvenile division so my motto is "Outlast the competition!"

[katrinaw]

Welcome to Susan's Chris, I have not been in competitive sports, ever, but I certainly have entered into localised general entrant competitions, like snow skiing and, as a teen, ice skating (barrel jumping and speed skating) where you had mixed gender's often, so was never a real concern.

But I cant really help you with competitive tho, sorry

But nice to have you join us!

L Katy 

[IAmChris]

Thanks for your replies. Jane - good to hear that you did eventually make it back to figure skating and congratulations on your medals! Maybe I have to think more long term

I accept that I am unlikely to be able to beat many other men, and it will be a case of competing against myself and working to improve upon my own times, but I am worried that I won't be able to do even this if I leave my current crew and am unable to get into another.

I can see that I would probably have to satisfy myself with social rowing, at least until the hormone effects have really kicked in. There's not much opportunity for racing if you're not competitive enough - we only have a couple of racing boats and they obviously go to the the best crews, and there are no other clubs I could go to (not that I would want to leave my current one anyway!).