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Three women athletes of swimming of American masters (USMS) have spoken out against the organization for having asked for help in public relations in the midst of a scandal involving a biological competitor of transportive for women.
USMS, an organization of membership in competitive swimming with more than 60,000 adult swimmers, sent an e-mail to its athletes on Tuesday to ask for the defense of its public image after the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, launched a lawsuit against the organization.
Paxton’s trial stems from an incident in San Antonio at the end of April, when a Trans athlete won five female events.
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“We Need your help to define the records as part of our new #SwimsuitsNotlawsuits campaign, “the e-mail told members.
E-mail then asked that the members “share correct information when you see or hear inaccurate statements. Help us by providing facts in response, whether on social networks, in the pool or in your local community. Let others know what is great in our organization.”
The email also referred to “rumors” on the situation.
“This situation began with rumors about the performance of a member during our spring nationals in April in San Antonio. An external organization has fueled online speculation on the admissibility of this swimmer, who led to demonstrations of his colleagues and to an investigation by the Attorney General in Texas,” added the email.
The USMS revised its eligibility policy between the sexes in June to restrict competitive recognition that biological men can reach the events of women, but it always allows them to compete with women.
The veteran female swimmer Wendy Enderle, who faced the Trans athlete in April and previously told PK Press Club Digital that she had never been informed of the athlete’s biological sex, PK Press Club Digital told e-mail as “an insult”.
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“I think that the USMS email is insulting for women who have unconsciously contributed to men and to all the members of the USMS who support equity in female sports, and that makes me,” said Enderle.
“It also gives me the impression that my concerns have been rejected and that the swimming of American masters is trying to sweep this under the carpet with a public relations campaign, especially since they have not yet responded to requests for the eligibility examination submitted three months ago.
“It makes me feel injured and sad because I train very hard to be one of the best swimmers in the world of my age group, and, as, my hard work and my achievements in the pool does not matter. I am very disappointed with the USMS for sending this deaf email to its members.”
Enderle previously said that she had asked for an eligibility examination for the Trans athlete but had never received an answer.
The swimmer of women Angie Griffin called the USMS for her policies which always allow men to compete in women’s events and not to meet the request for an eligibility examination.
“USMS asks members to publicly support the organization through a public relations campaign, while continuing to ignore women who have been directly affected,” said Griffin.
“Placing the feelings of an athlete above the rights of many fair competitions has been an error, and it has still not been recognized. We are not asking for much, just a response. Those of us who have taken the time to deposit official protests deserve to be taken seriously. A simple response would greatly contribute to the reconstruction of confidence.
“I appreciate that the USMS has since revised its eligibility policy. It is a step in the right direction. But real responsibility means recognizing previous damage – and not rewrite history or reproach. Until it happens, asking us to be the public voice by defending the organization feels premature and unjust.”
Women’s swimmer Cissy Cochran told PK Press Club Digital that she refused to participate in all USMS events after receiving the email.
“Usms has now sent an email asking all members to participate in a public relations campaign to help eliminate false ideas,” said Cochran. “They once again place the transgender policy interim at the avant-garde, giving the impression that they have cleaned their act when in fact, we received no words on the request for eligibility that we submitted the first week of May 2025. Perhaps a first step should have been recognized by the evil that took place in April.
“The USMS refuses to recognize or even respond to our official complaints speaks volumes about leadership. I refuse to participate in any USMS events and welcomes all the help of Texas and the Florida Attorney General in our fight to save female sports.”
A USMS spokesperson told PK Press Club Digital that the athlete’s examination process is “underway”.
“The process of examining the eligibility of the USMS for a swimmer is still underway. We sail on our process in a fair and deliberate manner and we expect a decision soon. The members who submitted demonstrations will be the first to know when this process is finished,” said the USMS spokesperson.
The spokesperson also addressed the complaints filed by the swimmers.
“The messages we sent to our members had nothing to do with the eligibility examination process. We have launched our swimsuit campaign and not prosecution to correct misleading public statements on the USM and clarify what we do. Our mission is to allow adults to improve their lives,” said the spokesperson.
Wendy Enderle swimming at the 2018 Spring Spring Championship. (Gracieuse of Wendy Enderle)
“We believe that asking for the help of our members to correct erroneous perceptions is an appropriate means of limiting the resources devoted to legal action so that it can be used for its planned purpose to serve our 60,000 members, and the response of our members so far has been positive.”
The trans swimmer, Ana Caldas, 47, dominated the five races in which the athlete competed in April, taking gold in the female category of 45 to 49 years in five races, including the breaststroke of 50 and 100 yards, freestyle and 100 meters.
