U.S. Masters Swimming is under investigation for allegedly allowing a transgender woman to swim at its 2025 U.S. Masters Spring Nationals in San Antonio.
According to reports, a transgender woman won five events at the meet.
The swimmer, 47-year-old Ana Caldas, dominated all five races the athlete competed in, taking gold in the women’s age 45-49 category in five races, including the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, freestyle and the 100-yard individual medley. Caldas was born Hugo Caldas, according to reports.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton started the investigation because Texas has a law in place that prohibits trans athletes from competing in female sports.
USMS policy allows transgender swimmers to participate in the gender competition category in which they identify, and they may also be recognized for accomplishments, if certain conditions are met.
One of the swimmers filed a request for eligibility review.
“The policy of U.S. Masters Swimming, which allows men to compete in women’s events, is reprehensible and could violate Texas’s consumer protection laws,” Paxton said in a prepared statement. “Not only is this policy insulting to female athletes, but it also demonstrates deep contempt for women and may violate Texas law. I will fight to stop these unfair policies and never back down from defending the integrity of women’s sports.”
Trans swimmers who do not meet those requirements can still participate in the women’s races, but their times are removed from the submitted results, and they are not eligible for official times, places, points, records, Top 10 or other forms of official recognition.
Male athletes, no matter what they call themselves, should not be competing in female sports. Those men can be included & place in the men’s category, or call themselves a woman and swim for exhibition only. Let’s have a return to common sense!
If you read the article, though it lacks detail that would help, that is exactly the policy of USMS. It seems like the only issue is that the athlete in question didn’t inform officials. The statement by Paxson is just hate mongering and grandstanding.