Australian player Jamie Gumbrell has faced some backlash from her win
BY CAMILLE BAVERA, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES
Jamie Gumbrell made history as the first out trans woman and croquet player to take home the top spot in this year’s world championship. She triumphed over England’s Rachel Gee, who won the championship in 2011, to become the winner of the Women’s Golf Croquet Championship this summer.
Grumbell took home the grand prize, uncontested, and officially became the Women’s 2023 World Croquet Federation champion.
However, even though her entrance into the WCF in 2022 was undisputed, the champion is now facing resentment for her win. In a recent interview, the Federation president, Ian Burridge, stated that “the fact that Jamie was assigned male at birth is not disputed by anyone.”
Gumbrell began her transition during the pandemic lockdown, and according to Burridge, she “now identifies as female as her entry into the world championships was determined in accordance with our policy, approved by our members in April 2022.”
Although Gumbrell has not yet commented on her win, competitors from other teams have been quite vocal in their indignation. “There was a huge amount of disquiet,” said Sue Lightbody, a member of the England team, about Gumbrell’s participation in the sport.
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