Hannah Arensman, an accomplished athlete with 35 victories under her belt in the national cyclocross circuit, recently retired from the sport citing competitions against biological men as her primary reason.
Having hung up her cycling helmet, Arensman is now raising her voice against the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports.
Her retirement came on the heels of her fourth-place finish at the UCI Cyclocross National Championship in December.
Austin Killips, a biological male competitor, secured third place in the same race, while another transgender woman followed closely behind in fifth place.
“In my final race at the UCI Cyclocross National Championships in December 2022, I finished fourth in the elite women’s category, sandwiched between male competitors who took the third and fifth positions.
My family, including my sister, were in tears as they saw a man outrank me, after observing several physical encounters with him during the race,” Arensman said.
RELATED: Fierce Backlash After Transgender California High School Runner’s 2nd Place Finish in Girls Race
Her decision to step back from cycling was included in an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court in support of West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports law.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Arensman shed light on her experience competing against biological men and her consequent decision to retire.
She firmly asserted her belief that biological men should not participate in women’s sports.
“Now that I’ve retired, there is nothing to hold me back. No one can threaten my racing career to silence me,” Arensman told The Telegraph. “I have been a cyclist for 12 years, and that chapter is closed. Now, I can openly voice concerns that have been brewing for quite some time.”
Concerns over the future of her 13-year-old sister in sports were also a factor.
Arensman explained, “You feel a certain responsibility towards your younger siblings, ensuring their safety. It would be distressing to see her trying to compete against males in her field.”
Reflecting on why people might hesitate to voice their opinions on transgender athletes competing against women, Arensman referred to the incident involving Riley Gaines earlier this year at San Francisco State University.
In a collective effort, Arensman, along with 66 other athletes and coaches, urged the Supreme Court to reconsider the preliminary injunction dissolved in January.
A federal judge had ruled that transgender women’s participation did not infringe on Title IX protections, a decision Arensman and her peers are challenging.
