British Swimming changed its locker room guidance this week after parents complained that a 65-year-old trans-identified male called Anne Coombes used the women's changing room as a walkthrough route to the pool while young girls were changing, making them uncomfortable.
According to the Daily Mail, the new rules prohibit any officials or volunteers from using the locker room area as a walkthrough during competitions. One parent told the Telegraph, "My daughter was in the changing rooms when this person walked through. And then came back again to use the toilets."
"She came and told me. How intimidating must it be to be a girl, changing in a women's space, when this happens?" added the parent. "And these girls feel that they can't complain in case they get labeled as transphobic."
On top of the stricter guidance, British Swimming added heightened security for changing rooms at the competitions. It said as soon as there was a complaint it "immediately followed procedure to correctly identify the necessary facts."
"Having established the details, relevant protocols were reviewed and all volunteers working on the event have been reminded of their responsibilities in adhering to our protocols," a spokesperson for British Swimming said.
On Monday, Commbes garnered attention on Twitter after complaining that the assistant at the Mercure Hotel in Sheffield assumed the 65-year-old wanted to use the unisex changing room instead of the women's.
"I am so f*****g angry," the now-deleted post read. "This is the first time anyone IRL (in real life) has treated me as if I am not a woman... decent people accept the rule of self-identity. If in doubt then find a polite way to ask, don't assume."
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies responded to the tweet, saying, "You’re male, use the changing room with other males or at the very least the unisex changing room!" She added, "Deciding you want to change where you want to change does NOT trump women & girls' rights. Ps I don’t know a single female that would subject that level of discomfort on others."
In another post from 2021 found by The Daily Mail, Coombes said, "I don't actually want to upset anyone, but I am determined that I am going to use the female changing rooms. I am not going to be shunted off to a separate facility such as a disabled changing room." The post continued, "As I see it, the problem with that solution is that once it is taken, not only are you identified as being different but it will inevitably become permanent."
Coombes' Twitter account was deactivated following these incidents.
