In the heated waters of international sports governance, a Portuguese-born American swimmer named Hannah Caldas has emerged as a vocal advocate for privacy and fairness.
At 47 years old, Caldas, who identifies as a woman, finds herself at the center of a storm following a five-year ban from World Aquatics, the sport’s global governing body.
The ban, announced in late October 2025, stems from her refusal to undergo a chromosomal sex verification test demanded as part of an eligibility probe.
Caldas competed in the women’s senior category at the 2024 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, Qatar, where she secured multiple medals in events like the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
Her victories, however, drew complaints from competitors who questioned her eligibility under World Aquatics’ strict policies for women’s categories, which require proof of no Y chromosome for transgender women.
This policy, updated in 2022, aims to ensure “fairness” in elite and masters competitions by excluding those who transitioned after puberty.
Caldas, born in Vizela, Portugal, and now representing the United States through the New York Swimming Federation, has a storied career in masters swimming spanning over three decades.
She previously competed in men’s categories during her college years from 2002 to 2004 but has since identified and competed as a woman, amassing national records and accolades in U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) events.
In 2024 alone, she dominated a San Antonio meet, winning five gold medals in the 45-49 age group, prompting backlash and even a state investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Paxton’s probe accused USMS of deceptive practices that disadvantaged female athletes, highlighting the growing tensions around transgender participation in women’s sports.
Despite this, USMS cleared Caldas in August 2025, affirming her eligibility based on her birth certificate—listing her as female—and self-identification, allowing her to compete domestically.
World Aquatics, however, escalated the matter, requiring a genetic test at Caldas’ expense to verify compliance with their chromosomal criteria.
The test, described as invasive and costly—often involving blood draws or cheek swabs for DNA analysis—costs hundreds of dollars and is rarely covered by insurance for non-medical purposes.
Caldas refused, arguing it violates her privacy and sets a dangerous precedent for all women athletes.
In a powerful statement released through the New York Swimming Federation on October 22, 2025, Caldas declared: “I AM A WOMAN, I FEEL OFFENDED BY BEING FORCED TO TAKE A SEX TESTING.”
She continued, emphasizing her autonomy: “My medals and achievements are thanks to my efforts,” rejecting any implication that her successes were unearned.
This outburst came amid media portrayals that misgendered her or framed her as a “trans man competing as a woman,” fueling a narrative of controversy.
Caldas hit back at the press, accusing them of sensationalism: “The media twists my story to fit agendas, ignoring the human cost of these demands.”
Her response resonated widely, garnering support from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups like GLAAD and Athlete Ally, who praised her for protecting “intimate medical information.”
She elaborated: “Chromosomal tests are invasive and expensive procedures. My insurance refuses to cover such a test because it is not medically necessary.”
Moreover, she noted that no U.S. state mandates genetic testing for recreational sports like masters swimming, nor does USMS require it for national events.
By October 24, 2025, Caldas had accepted the ban’s implications, stating: “I understand and accept the consequences of not complying with a World Aquatics investigation.”
“But if a five-year suspension is the price I must pay to protect my most intimate medical information, then it’s a price I am happy to pay—for myself, and for every other woman who does not want to submit to highly invasive medical testing just to swim in an older-adult competition.”
This suspension, effective until October 18, 2030, disqualifies all her results from June 19, 2022, to October 17, 2024, erasing golds from Doha and other meets.
It marks a significant personal loss; Caldas invested thousands in travel and training for these recreational events, which she views as lifelong passions rather than professional pursuits.
Beyond the pool, Caldas is an accomplished CrossFit athlete and community coach, using her platform to mentor young swimmers on resilience and inclusivity.
Her case echoes the 2022 saga of Lia Thomas, the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming title, who was similarly banned by World Aquatics after challenging their rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Thomas’ appeal failed, upholding the federation’s authority to enforce chromosomal restrictions for “integrity and fairness.”
Caldas has hinted at a potential CAS appeal but expressed reluctance, saying on November 1, 2025, in an interview with PinkNews: “After 30 years in sanctioned events, I’m prepared to let it all go if it means standing for what’s right.”
Supporters, including the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), have mixed reactions; while some celebrate the ban as protecting cisgender women, others decry it as discriminatory.
ICONS previously criticized Caldas’ margins of victory as “absolutely insane,” claiming they laughed at female competitors’ efforts.
Caldas countered this narrative, sharing data from her performances: her Doha times, while fast, aligned with masters records held by diverse athletes, not anomalies.
She argued that age-group swimming celebrates personal bests over cutthroat rivalry, and her efforts—endless laps, dietary discipline, and injury recoveries—mirror those of any dedicated swimmer.
The ban’s fallout extends to broader debates on transgender rights in sports, intensified by the 2024 Paris Olympics controversies involving boxer Imane Khelif.
Khelif, disqualified from the women’s category by the International Boxing Association over unspecified gender tests, won gold under IOC rules, sparking global outcry.
Caldas’ situation reignited these flames, with conservative outlets like OutKick labeling her a “trans-identifying male” undermining women’s spaces.
Progressive voices, however, frame it as a privacy battle: why demand genetic proof from one woman when birth certificates suffice for others?
As of November 11, 2025, no appeal has been filed, but petitions on Change.org urging World Aquatics to revise policies have surpassed 50,000 signatures.
Caldas has pivoted to unsanctioned open-water swims and coaching, vowing: “The water doesn’t discriminate; why should we?”
Her story underscores a pivotal tension: balancing competitive equity with human dignity in an era of evolving gender policies.
World Aquatics defends its stance, citing over 600 athlete consultations leading to the 2022 framework, which includes an “open” category for transgender competitors—though uptake remains low due to stigma.
Critics argue this segregates rather than includes, forcing unnecessary choices.
In the U.S., USMS’ contrasting decision highlights jurisdictional rifts; while international bodies tighten rules, domestic ones prioritize self-ID for recreational levels.
This duality leaves athletes like Caldas in limbo, competing nationally but barred globally.
Looking ahead, Caldas plans a memoir tentatively titled “Laps of Liberty,” chronicling her journey from Portuguese pools to American advocacy.
She told SwimSwam on November 5: “This isn’t just my fight—it’s for every woman tired of proving her womanhood on a lab slide.”
Her resilience inspires, reminding us that true champions measure success not in medals, but in the courage to dive into uncomfortable truths.
As debates rage, Caldas embodies the swimmer’s ethos: stroke by stroke, against the current, refusing to be pulled under.
