The world famous Boston Marathon has three race categories for participants based on gender — but because of lax gender identity standards, male runners have the opportunity to compete — and could win the top prizes — in all three categories: male, female, and non-binary.
Former Levi Strauss executive Jennifer Sey — who is an outspoken advocate for biological women and girls in sports and the founder of XX-XY Athletics — shared some details about the famous footrace in an op-ed published Sunday by the New York Post.
A man is eligible to win every Boston Marathon category — men’s, women’s and non-binary, too. No space is protected for women. pic.twitter.com/7rNQfJTVzX
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) April 20, 2025
Sey noted that the Boston Marathon opened a non-binary category for runners in 2023, but that trans-identifying male runner Riya Suising — born Robert Chien Hwa Young — was still allowed to enter the race in the female category because he claims that he is a woman. It will not be Suising’s first outing, either — the longtime runner “has competed in races in the female category more than 338 times since 2009, medaling for his age group more than 140 times.”
“It means a man could win every Boston Marathon category — men’s, women’s and non-binary, too. No space is protected for women,” Sey wrote. “On a day meant to honor courage and freedom, is this what breaking barriers really means?”
Because those entering the race as “non-binary” could be biologically either male or female, the qualifying time for that category is the same as the women’s qualifying time — which is slower than the men’s time, Sey wrote: “The official qualifying time for women is 16.6% slower than for men — a full 30 minutes — recognizing a fact we all know to be true: men are faster than women.”
Registration for Boston 2024 is open!
Men! Failed to qualify under the men’s times? No matter! You could still get in with a time 30 mins slower than your fellow men by declaring yourself non-binary! 🎉
Women! No such luxury for you. 😔#trainharder https://t.co/qGa3nj2tZM pic.twitter.com/eeGs48cDQL
— Mara Yamauchi (@mara_yamauchi) September 11, 2023
“The prestige of the Boston Marathon was ruined when they created a non-binary category allowing men to qualify by running a female qualifying time. Now they allow men to compete in the women’s category too. Skip Boston. There are plenty of beautiful courses to run,” Storm Robinson posted in response.
The prestige of the Boston Marathon was ruined when they created a non-binary category allowing men to qualify by running a female qualifying time. Now they allow men to compete in the women’s category too.
Skip Boston. There are plenty of beautiful courses to run. https://t.co/bmPfdEQpGn
— Storm (@stormrobinson) April 20, 2025
“The men’s category in the Boston Marathon is open to Riya Suising. The non-binary category is, too,” Sey concluded, noting that it did not matter if Suising won — the fact that he was even allowed to compete in the women’s category meant that he took a spot in the competition that should have belonged to a women. “The women’s category must not be. Misogyny looks no better in a running bra. It’s still a man insisting on special treatment, getting priority over every woman’s fair shot.”
