A trans-identifying male competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship meet, and he took gold medals in every event he entered — in the 45-49 age group of the women’s division.
Ana Caldas, who has also raced under the names Hannah Caldas and Hugo Caldas, swam in five individual events and three relays over the course of the four-day competition in San Antonio — and won every individual race: the 50 yard freestyle, the 100 yard freestyle, the 50 yard breaststroke, and the 100 yard breaststroke. Caldas came in a full three seconds ahead of the second place finisher in the 100 yard freestyle, and four seconds ahead in the 50 and 100 yard breaststroke events.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) reached out to the U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) board after Caldas won his first individual event on Friday, referencing the body’s stated rules — which require trans-identifying male swimmers to have received hormone therapy and to show proof of testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L — and saying that was hardly enough to protect the female athletes who were losing medals and opportunities to men.
“Transparency in these matters is critical to maintaining the integrity of the competition and the trust of all USMS athletes. There is no length of time during which testosterone suppression eliminates male advantage; therefore it should not serve as a guideline permitting men to compete in women’s swimming. At a minimum, it is USMS’s responsibility to enforce its current policy,” the letter read, in part.
“He’s just laughing at these women,” an ICONS spokeswoman said.
As Reduxx reported, it is not clear whether or not Caldas’ competitors knew that he was male:
…he has been competing as a woman in swimming, rowing, and Crossfit for decades, and has been careful to conceal his previous identity. However, Caldas’ birth name is still listed on multiple research papers he co-authored as an academic, and in records from Wake Forest University where he was a member of the faculty. Caldas also co-applied for a patent in 2004 using the names “Hugo” and “Hannah.”
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines shared the story via X, adding, “A man who goes by the name Ana swam five events at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship. He won them all. Real life South Park episode.”
A man who goes by the name Ana swam five events at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship.
He won them all.
Real life South Park episode.
https://t.co/Mw2jL9BukD— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 28, 2025
“INSANITY. At this weekend’s U.S. Masters Spring National Championships, Hugo ‘Ana’ Caldas, a male athlete, took first place in 5 Women’s individual events. Here he is crushing the Women’s breast stroke 45-49 category, winning by a full 3 seconds, in a time of 29.74. Anyone who competes in swimming at the national level knows this is unheard of in a 50 yard race where wins are often measured in a tenth or a hundredth of a second,” Beth Bourne added.
🚨🚨INSANITY. At this weekend’s U.S. Masters Spring National Championships, Hugo “Ana” Caldas, a male athlete, took first place in 5 Women’s individual events.
Here he is crushing the Women’s breast stroke 45-49 category, winning by a full 3 seconds, in a time of 29.74.… pic.twitter.com/EPfuFe6wOh
— Beth Bourne (@bourne_beth2345) April 27, 2025
“Michael Jordan at 60 years old could suit up today and be the best ‘WOMAN’ in the @wnba and maybe THEN the stupid people in the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship would SEE THEIR OWN INSANITY!” Rob Schneider posted.
Michael Jordan at 60 years old could suit up today and be the best “WOMAN” in the @WNBA and maybe THEN the stupid people in the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship would SEE THEIR OWN INSANITY! https://t.co/I1Tdwh5gi7
— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) April 29, 2025
