Mara Yamauchi thinks it is not right that a trans athlete who ran in the men’s series participates in the women’s games.
Glenique Frank caused a stir at the London Marathon. EPA / AOP
Been into running for a long time Glenique Frank, 54, ran in the women’s division of the London Marathon a week ago. The deadline was 11/4/28.
According to the Telegraph magazine, Frank had run two previous marathons, in Tokyo and New York, in the men’s category under his name Glen Frank.
Two-time Olympic visitor Mara Yamauchi49, commented on Frank’s new performance.
– This man ran yesterday in the London marathon as Glenique Frank in the women’s category, being 6,160th in the race, when there were 20,123 participants. Almost 14,000 actual women suffered from a lower ranking because of him, Yamamuchi wrote on Twitter.
According to Yamamuchi, the International Association of Athletics Federations and the United Kingdom Athletics Association outlined on March 31, 2023 that those who have competed in the men’s series after puberty may not participate in the women’s series. However, if you had time to register for the women’s series before the new rule, you can run in the women’s series in the normal model.
– Nevertheless, men in the women’s series is unfair to women, Yamauchi stated.
Yamauchi represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games. The woman’s record in the marathon is 2.23.12.
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The story continues after the picture.
Here, Mara Yamauchi runs the London Marathon in 2010. Two years earlier, at the Beijing Olympics, she finished sixth in the same distance. PDO
“I feel like a woman”
When there was an uproar about it, Frank apologized for what had happened.
– I signed up for the women’s series because I feel like a woman, she said.
According to Frank, he has been in the wrong body since he turned five. He wanted to apologize to Yamauchi.
– I am sad that I upset Mara because I respect her.
Frank has already run 17 marathons during his life. Now he is ready to give back the medal he received from the London Marathon.
– If they really think that I stole the ranking from another woman, I don’t mind returning the medal because I will run again next year for charity.
– However, I don’t want to apologize because I didn’t do anything wrong.
Frank accepts people’s criticism.
– I understand that. I’m not a woman, I don’t have a uterus. But I didn’t race in the elite series, so I didn’t steal money.
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Sources: Telegraph, New York Post, Fox News