Photo by Lukas Bato,free to use under the Unsplash License

Trans skateboarder Ricci Tres is coming under fire for the comments she made when speaking to the Daily Mail regarding the defeat of her much younger, biologically female opponents at the recent Boardr Open skateboarding tournament, where Tres placed first out of five.

Tres, a 29-year-old former Navy veteran and biological male, who now chooses to live as a female, told the Daily Mail that she felt nothing wrong with defeating her opponents in what she described as a fair competition.

“I’m not going to go and be easy on them because they’re kids,” said Tres.

“I don’t think I have a physical advantage. Look at me. I’m not buff or anything,” Tres continued. “I don’t work out really; I just skateboard. And I don’t think skateboarding has anything to do with physicality, especially when you look at kids these days.”

Tres defended her victory, even going as far as to say that despite their age difference, she would treat them no differently than she would treat adult competitors.

“The whole physical aspect of skateboarding isn’t really there. It’s really the skill level,” Tres added. “Any kind of advantage you get is determined by… skaters know… it’s your commitment and determination.”

“If you love the sport, it speaks to you and you find ways to do what you do on your board. If I have any advantage is that I’m extremely determined. But that’s not an advantage. Everyone has the opportunity,” she concluded.

Ricci Tres via USA Skateboarding

Related: New Poll Reveals Majority Of Americans Are Opposed To Transgender Athletes Competing In Women’s Sports

In 2021, Tres attempted to try out for the US Women’s Olympic skateboarding qualifiers but had too much testosterone in her body to compete against biological female athletes. After undergoing additional hormone treatments, Tres is now within the IOC standards to compete within the women’s division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zU3hYGMSLA

During the tournament, Tres bested 13-year-old Shiloh Catori, who was ranked No. 133 compared to Tres’ 838th position according to Boadr’s global rankings. The youngest opponent who came in fifth place, was only 10-years-old.

What are your thoughts on Tres’ remarks?