The world of masters swimming was rocked in late October 2025 when World Aquatics imposed a five-year ban on transgender athlete Hannah Caldas, effectively sidelining her until October 2030.
All her results from June 2022 to October 2024 were disqualified, stripping away titles and records, including a gold in the women’s 100m freestyle at the 2024 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha.
Caldas, a 48-year-old Portuguese-American who has competed as a woman since 2009, refused a required chromosomal test to verify eligibility under World Aquatics’ strict gender policy.
This policy, enacted in 2022, largely bars transgender women from elite female categories unless they transitioned before puberty.
The controversy began earlier in 2025 when Caldas dominated the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals, winning five events in the women’s 45-49 age group.
Critics, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, challenged her participation, prompting investigations.
U.S. Masters Swimming cleared her based on documents showing female assignment at birth and gender identity, but World Aquatics demanded more rigorous proof.
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