Getty ImagesBlaire Fleming
NOS Sport•vandaag, 06:15
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Anne van Eijk
editor NOS Sport
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Anne van Eijk
editor NOS Sport
In American college volleyball, a match against San Jose State was boycotted last week for the fifth time this season. The fact that teams cancel matches with that particular team has everything to do with one player: Blaire Fleming.
Rumor has it that Fleming is a trans woman. It is said by, among others, her teammate Brooke Slusser that she hits balls of 128 kilometers per hour – speeds that not even all top male volleyball players can reach – and that she therefore poses a danger to opponents. To reinforce those rumors, videos are shared in which a smash by Fleming lands hard in the face of an opponent.
Neither Fleming nor the team make any official statements about her gender, yet she is the center of a now heated national discussion in the United States.
Active for four years
And that is quite special, because Fleming has been active in American college volleyball for four years. “We have always just played against her when we did not yet know that she is a trans woman,” says Dutch Myrthe Maring, who has played volleyball at college level in the United States in recent years.
“And no one has ever said: I’m really not going to play against her, because she hits so hard. And the fact that someone hits so hard is not necessarily very new. Many players have had a ball in the face. But because people Now knowing that she is a trans woman, it is different.”
Garett GrafMyrthe Maring (right) tries to block a ball from Blaire Fleming
The fact that the entire US now knows is because Slusser, captain of San Jose State, has sounded the alarm. She was Fleming’s roommate for years without knowing that Fleming is a trans woman. After questions from Slusser, Fleming eventually confirmed that she was a trans woman.
Slusser has since joined more than a dozen other female athletes in suing the NCAA for violations of Title IXthe federal statute that guarantees equal opportunities for men and women in university education and sports.
Political position
Maring: “The teams that do not want to play the matches now say that they do so for safety reasons. And safety is of course very important, but I also have the feeling that it is more of a political position than that they actually do not want to play against her. play because she hits so hard.”
“America is very clearly divided into two parts: the Republican side is generally conservative and thinks it is not possible, the liberal side sees no problem with trans women participating in women’s competitions.”
Two weeks ago, presidential candidate Donald Trump also contributed to the riot surrounding volleyball star Fleming. According to him, trans people should not be welcome in women’s competitions.
The Nevada volleyball players, who had to play against San Jose State last weekend, felt supported. They rebelled when the University of Nevada would not cancel the game. And with success, because Nevada decided not to play against San Jose State.
The official reason given was that the team had a shortage of players, but captain Sia Liilii told a press conference what the real reason was: the players had refused “to participate in a competition that promotes injustice against female athletes”.
American Association Guidelines
The position that transgender women should not be allowed to participate in women’s competitions is at odds with the guidelines of the American Volleyball Association. The NCAA, the organization under which college volleyball falls, follows the association’s guidelines in the case of trans people. And it can be read that they are indeed welcome – under conditions.
Getty ImagesBlaire Fleming
“Athletes who wish to participate in a competition of the opposite sex than assigned at birth must notify the association at least six weeks before the start of the competition,” the guidelines read.
The association also reports that male hormones may give transgender women an unfair advantage. To prevent this, the following guideline is used: “The testosterone level should not exceed the upper limit of women in the same age group.”
International association guidelines
The world volleyball association FIVB also has guidelines for the participation of transgender people, which largely correspond with the American ones. On the basis of physiological (height, weight, muscle mass, etc.) and medical factors (including the age at which gender reassignment was undergone and testosterone level), it is determined whether a trans person does not have an advantage over women in the competition and is therefore allowed to participate .”
Despite the clear guidelines, the umbrella association NCAA remains remarkably silent on the current issue. Maring: “The NCAA is already in the middle of a lawsuit, in which they are being sued by Slusser, among others, for violations of Title IX. So they are not making many statements about this case at this time.”
Gloria Nevarez, a spokesperson for the Mountain West conference, the region that includes San Jose State, said: “It breaks my heart because on both sides of this discussion it’s about people, about young girls. And they get very a lot of negative attention because of this. It doesn’t feel good. This is not what we encourage in college competitions.”
The Volleyball Controversy: A Smash Hit or a Missed Serve?
Ah, American college volleyball—where the competition is fierce, the players are passionate, and the drama is thicker than a protein shake at a sports bar. In a tale worthy of the Kardashians, a single player has sent shockwaves through the volleyball world: Blaire Fleming. Yes, folks, you better sit down because this is going to hit harder than Fleming’s serves!
The Player in the Center of a Storm
So, what’s the big fuss? Well, it appears that this season, a match against San Jose State was boycotted for the fifth time due to the *allegations* surrounding Fleming’s participation as a trans woman. Yes, you heard that right—a timely topic that keeps resurfacing in sports. You’d think it was all part of some elaborate marketing stunt for a new reality show!
Rumor has it that Fleming’s spikes reach a blistering speed of 128 kilometers per hour—fast enough to make even the bravest libation-loving bar-goer reconsider their decision to watch the game from up close. Just imagine, a ball crashing into your face at that speed! One minute, you’re cheering for your team, and the next, you’re re-evaluating your life choices. Ouch!
A Roommate Turned Whistleblower
What caused the uproar? Well, according to fellow player Brooke Slusser, she was Fleming’s roommate for years and had no idea she was a trans woman until a bit of probing revealed the truth. In a classic “I can’t believe it” moment, Slusser—possibly inspired by a good old-fashioned shock-and-awe tactic—decided to sound the alarm, leading to a whole drama on and off the court. But hey, if you’re looking to stir up headlines, this is how you do it!
Title IX: The Legal Battlefield
Now, here’s where it gets as messy as a spaghetti dinner after a food fight. Slusser, alongside a multitude of vocal athletes, is suing the NCAA under Title IX. You know, that little piece of legislation that’s meant to ensure equality for men and women in sports. The irony isn’t lost on anyone here—like a referee blowing a whistle during a silent prayer!
Myrthe Maring, a former Dutch player who’s experienced the collegiate volleyball scene in the U.S., pointed out that until the gender discussion went public, no one had complained about Fleming’s hard-hitting style. It seems like once the label ‘trans’ was slapped on, everyone suddenly grew a pair of “safety concerns.” Talk about a classic curveball!
America Divided: More Than Just Volleyball
It’s like watching a game of Tug of War between two political teams; one believes trans women should join women’s competitions while the other is screaming about injustices—and partisan shouting matches are rarely about logic, are they? Even Donald Trump decided to toss his hat into the ring (as if he needed more attention), claiming trans people shouldn’t be playing in women’s sports. You know, because obviously he’s too busy with his own sporting events to notice that gender identity is a little more nuanced than a set of weights in a gym!
What Are the Official Guidelines?
Despite all the hot takes, the NCAA has some guidelines! Surprising, I know! The rules state that athletes wishing to compete in the “opposite” category must notify the association six weeks prior. But just because they have guidelines doesn’t mean they’re good at employing them! Talk about a ‘play it by ear’ strategy!
The American Volleyball Association welcomes trans athletes, under the condition that their testosterone levels are within a certain range. But the NCAA’s silence amidst a lawsuit screams louder than a referee in a packed stadium.
The Bottom Line
For Blaire Fleming, what started as a volleyball career might just be her ticket to being the most talked-about player in the NCAA! Talk about blossoming into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons! And while the argument rages on, young athletes are caught in the crossfire, likely just wanting to serve and spike without the political pandemonium surrounding them.
So, will we see this controversy resolved? Will there be an epic showdown between those championing equality and those who just want things to stay ‘traditional’? Only time will tell. In the meantime, grab your popcorn, because this show is far from over!
And remember, you can’t serve justice without first facing the music… even if it’s coming from a volleyball to your face!
In a striking turn of events within American college volleyball, a match against San Jose State was boycotted for the fifth time this season. This recurring cancellation is predominantly tied to the presence of one athlete: Blaire Fleming.
Rumors surrounding Fleming suggest that she is a trans woman. Her teammate, Brooke Slusser, has noted that Fleming can strike volleyballs at astonishing speeds of 128 kilometers per hour, a feat that even many elite male volleyball players struggle to achieve. The concern stems from the potential risk she poses to her opponents, especially highlighted by shared video clips showing her powerful hits landing forcefully on rivals.
Despite Fleming’s rising prominence, neither she nor her team has issued official statements regarding her gender identity, yet the issue has escalated into a fervent national debate across the United States.
Fleming’s involvement in American college volleyball spans four years, during which her gender identity was undisclosed. Dutch player Myrthe Maring, who has also competed at the collegiate level in the U.S., remarked, “We played against her without knowing she is a trans woman before. There was never hesitance related to her hard hitting during those matches.” Maring emphasized that while hard hits occur in volleyball, the newly recognized context of Fleming’s gender seems to have shifted the narrative.
The rising awareness surrounding Fleming emerged in part due to Slusser’s vocal concern. After successfully rooming with Fleming for years and later learning about her gender identity, Slusser took proactive measures, formally confirming with Fleming that she is a trans woman.
Slusser’s revelations have prompted her to join forces with numerous other female athletes in a lawsuit against the NCAA, asserting violations of Title IX, a crucial federal law ensuring equitable opportunities for men and women in academic and athletic endeavors.
Maring reflects on the motives behind the matches’ cancellations, suggesting that safety is a significant concern, but implies that many teams may also be leveraging the situation to adopt a politically charged stance rather than genuinely fearing a competitive disadvantage. “The U.S. is sharply divided on this issue—conservative perspectives generally oppose trans women in women’s sports, while liberal views advocate for their inclusion,” she noted.
Recently, the discourse intensified when presidential candidate Donald Trump openly declared his opposition to trans athletes competing in women’s sports, further fueling the fire surrounding Fleming’s case.
In a show of solidarity, the Nevada volleyball team, poised to face San Jose State last weekend, actively protested against the match when their university initially declined to cancel it. Their efforts bore fruit, as Nevada ultimately opted out of the competition.
Although the official statement cited player shortages as the reason for withdrawal, team captain Sia Liilii clarified during a press conference that the real motivation stemmed from the players’ refusal to engage in a contest perceived as perpetuating inequality against female athletes.
The NCAA operates under guidelines laid out by the American Volleyball Association, which stipulate conditions for transgender women’s participation in women’s competitions. Athletes looking to compete in a gender category different from that assigned at birth are required to inform the association at least six weeks before competition commencement.
Furthermore, the guidelines highlight the importance of monitoring testosterone levels to prevent any unfair advantage, stating that transgender women’s testosterone levels should remain within the upper limits established for women in the same age bracket.
Despite the existing regulations, the NCAA has remained conspicuously quiet on this pressing issue. Maring pointed out, “The NCAA is currently embroiled in a lawsuit led by Slusser and others, alleging violations of Title IX, which understandably has led to their reluctance to comment.”
Gloria Nevarez, spokesperson for the Mountain West conference encompassing San Jose State, expressed her concerns: “It breaks my heart because, on both sides of this discussion, it’s about people, about young girls. They’re receiving a significant amount of negative attention because of this. It doesn’t feel right. This isn’t the spirit we endorse in collegiate competitions.”
