When Rachel McKinnon hopped on her bike to compete in the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championship earlier this month in California, she knew she had followed the competition rules to a tee – ironic for a kid who grew up golfing in Greater Victoria and who is now at the centre of a firestorm of backlash for being a transgender athlete.

“I’m not naive, I work on this topic professionally,” says the College of Charleston professor, on the line from South Carolina. “I’m currently teaching a course on transgender people in sport and yet, I’m pretty shocked at how heavy the backlash is.”

First transgender woman world champion…ever.*

UCI Masters Track Cycling Women 35-44 Sprint@outsports @TheAdvocateMag @CofC @PinkNews @TheChrisMosier @BicyclingMag @velonews @gcntweet @glaad @TransMediaWatch @TransEquality @TransgenderNews @equalitynetwork pic.twitter.com/SD0HuS1Crv

— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 14, 2018

On Oct. 13, the Stelly’s Secondary School alum and UVic graduate made history as the first transgender woman to win a world title. But, it’s the idea that McKinnon had an unfair advantage – due to being assigned male at birth – that caused an international uproar.

“All the work that went into that victory, people are attributing to me being trans,” she says. “I didn’t just get up off the couch and win. I worked my butt off.”

RELATED: B.C. filmmaker receives non-binary birth certificate

Standing on the podium with the bronze medal was Jen Wagner Assali, a hand surgeon from Houston, who tweeted immediately following the race that the result was unfair.

She later apologized, saying she made the comments out of frustration and that they weren’t productive or positive, adding: “While I may not agree with the rules, when I pin on a number I agree to race by them.”

The rules, McKinnon says, are clear, and she has always competed in accordance with them, regularly testing her testosterone levels – which require staying below 10 nanomoles for every litre of blood.

RELATED: Pride Week kicks off in Victoria with raising of five pride flags

The idea that she could have had a physical advantage over her competitors solely based on gender frustrates McKinnon who says in the qualifying rounds, Wagner Assali “beat me 10 out of 12 times.”

And of her competitor’s response on social media, McKinnon says: “She made it clear that she stood by what she said, but just regretted doing it publicly.”

My results last year. …where's this advantage you speak of? Why was I nearly LAST PLACE in most of the pro races (and I only one the one pro race all season)? pic.twitter.com/x68XFvYndI

— Dr. Rachel McKinnon (@rachelvmckinnon) October 22, 2018

Transgender athletes first competed in Olympic level sport in 2004 – to date, none of them have reached the podium – and it is the International Olympic Committee’s guidelines for male-to-female trans athletes that most elite level sport organizations also use.

In 2017, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine surveyed 2,127 cisgender track and field athletes (those whose gender identity aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth) testing their levels of testosterone in comparison with their performance.

While the data has yet to be released, the study found men with higher levels of testosterone didn’t necessarily fare any better in any particular event and women with high levels of testosterone sometimes had an advantage over those with lower levels.

Sochi Olympics offer platform for gay community The controversy is predictable, McKinnon says, because the rights of transgender people have made significant gains in recent years. “Every time this has happened in history with marginalized groups and the advancement of civil rights, there’s been a backlash,” she points out. “And, I think we’re in that moment.” Truth be told, McKinnon doesn’t think people really even care about women’s track cycling, a relatively new sport that first appeared at the 1988 Olympics, and that the criticisms are just a way of “exposing whatever transphobia they already had.” Participation in sport is a human right, she says, pointing to the fourth principle of the Olympic Charter. “I do look forward to the day, if it ever comes, that I or people like me can just focus on competing,” McKinnon says. “That’s hard enough.” @kristyn_anthony kristyn.anthony@blackpress.ca Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Get local stories you won't find anywhere else right to your inbox. Sign up here Previous story Coast Tsimshian Academy principal fired after financial irregularities discovered Next story Kelly Ellard, who killed B.C. teen Reena Virk, has day parole extended Just Posted Stream of Dreams fish swim the fence at Prince Rupert School Students at Annunciation school learned about watershed protection and salmon habitat B.C. deficit to grow by $19 billion for COVID-19 recovery spending Pandemic-year deficit $5 billion lower than forecast Homeownership put of reach for many young British Columbians Prince Rupert home prices skyrocket Sharp decline in Prince Rupert COVID-19 cases Prince Rupert lab-confirmed cases are down 62.5 per cent in one week Three P.R. organizations partner to develop food distribution network $167,000 grant awarded to GSN, PRDCC and Ecotrust Canada to strengthen food supply chains VIDEO: Trudeau defends Canada’s travel restrictions as effective but open to doing more Trudeau said quarantine hotels for international air travellers will continue until at least May 21 Hot B.C. housing market drives property transfer tax gains B.C. budget boosts tobacco, sweet drinks, carbon taxes ‘Where else do we go for help?’: Okanagan mom struggles to aid son fighting opioid addiction Teena Clipston is learning that help can be hard to find U.S. to help Canada with more COVID-19 vaccine supply, Biden says The U.S. has already provided Canada with about 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine BC Fruit Growers’ Association gives thumbs up to provincial budget BCFGA general manager said budgetary investments put farming industry on a good trajectory for recovery Paid sick leave for ‘hard-hit’ workers left out of provincial budget: BCGEU ‘For recovery to be equitable it requires supports for workers, not just business,’ says union president Laird Cronk VIDEO: Large, police-patrolled crowds gather at Vancouver beach for COVID protests Vancouver police said they patrolled the area and monitored all gatherings George Floyd’s death was ‘wake-up call’ about systemic racism: Trudeau Derek Chauvin was found guilty Tuesday on all three charges against him Rowing Canada sanctions former head coach of B.C. varsity women’s team Suspension of Barney Williams would be reversed if he complies with certain terms Most Read B.C.’s COVID-19 infection rate declines, 849 cases Tuesday Up to 456 people now in hospital, 148 in intensive care B.C. restaurants to get COVID-19 ‘circuit breaker’ grant extension Tourism promised $100 million boost when travel resumes B.C. deficit to grow by $19 billion for COVID-19 recovery spending Pandemic-year deficit $5 billion lower than forecast Judge tosses lawsuit of B.C. COVID-denier who broke quarantine after Flat Earth conference Mak Parhar accused gov, police of trespass, malfeasance, extortion, terrorism, kidnapping and fraud Public transit to be free for kids 12 and younger – a ‘bold’ B.C. budget line advocates applaud Program could save families upwards of $50 per month B.C. announces historic half-billion-dollar funding for overdose crisis, mental health Of it, $152 million will be used to address the opioid crisis and see the creation of 195 new substance use treatment beds B.C. budget to expand $10-a-day child care, but misses the mark on ‘truly universal’ system $111 million will be used to fund 3,750 new $10-a-day spaces though 75 additional ChildCareBC universal prototype sites over the next three years. Close ad