In a recent appearance on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast, mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre shared his thoughts on the complex topic of intergender competition in combat sports.
When asked about the ongoing debate surrounding transgender and intersex athletes in sports, St-Pierre expressed a firm stance. “If a man changes his sex and then competes as a woman, I think this is disgusting,” he said. The former UFC champion believes that for fairness, there should be a separate category for transgender athletes, as the physical advantages of being born male cannot be entirely erased.
St-Pierre’s comments come in the wake of the upcoming grappling match between Craig Jones, one of the best grapplers in the world, and the much larger and more physically imposing Gabi Garcia. While acknowledging the impressive skill levels of both athletes, St-Pierre noted the inherent biological differences that make such intergender matches inherently unfair.
“The strength, the bone density, there are a lot of factors,” St-Pierre explained. “Normally, we are more physically stronger. That’s why there are different categories – men and women. To make it fair.”
However, the MMA icon recognized that in certain scenarios, a highly skilled female athlete could potentially defeat a less experienced male counterpart. “If you take a woman for example who has a lot of experience, she can kick his a*s 100%,” he said. “But if you go to the elite level, it would be pretty unlikely.”
Throughout the conversation, St-Pierre emphasized the importance of protecting women’s sports and ensuring a level playing field. As an athlete who has achieved the highest levels of success in his own career, he understands the delicate balance between inclusivity and fairness that sports organizations must navigate.
