Parkrun, a worldwide mass participation running event, has decided to remove all-time records from its websites following a dispute involving transgender athletes and accusations of sex discrimination. The decision has sparked criticism and discontent among participants and public figures, leading to resignations and protests.
On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Parkrun, a global mass participation running event, erased all-time records from its websites in response to controversy over transgender athletes holding female records. The removal affected records across various age and course categories, prompting criticism and accusations of “sex discrimination.”
Russ Jefferys, CEO of Parkrun, emphasized that the organization’s decision was not influenced by campaigns to declare participants’ sex at birth. Jefferys argued that Parkrun is a community health event, not a competitive race, and that displaying records was deterring new participants. Despite regular weekly results still being published, the removal of all-time records led to discontent among some participants and criticism from public figures, including former Olympian Sharron Davies.
Mick Anglim, event director at Brockenhurst Parkrun, resigned over the new policy, echoing concerns that the removal diminished “motivation and challenge” for all age groups. An online poll on the ‘Parkrun Statsgeek Group’ page showed 82% disagreement with the policy from over 2,200 respondents.
Campaigners continue to call for a “sex at birth” category in Parkrun, while the organization stands by its current inclusive policy, allowing participants to self-select their gender. Protests with runners wearing ‘Save Women’s Sport’ t-shirts are planned for the coming weekend.
The ongoing debate mirrors broader discussions within the athletics world, with governing bodies like World Athletics moving to ban transgender women from female competitions in the past year.
