Transgender cyclist threatened after Boris Johnson’s comments

Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges says she was threatened with ‘knee caps’ after comments from Boris Johnson.

The 21-year-old made headlines in March when she was banned from competing against Dame Laura Kenny at the British National Omnium Championships.

The sports association had decided that she was not eligible to participate.

Mr Johnson had interfered in the ensuing debate by saying “biological men should not compete in women’s sport”.

His comments caused Bridges to fear for her own safety due to an “avalanche” of abuse.

“The reaction afterwards was as expected,” she told ITV.

“I’ve been threatened with physical violence online by complete strangers, and I’m scared of being who I am in public most of the time.

“People are entitled to have an opinion on this, but there is a way to express that opinion and threatening me with a kneecap is not the right way.”

She added the issue was an issue Mr Johnson “didn’t know about.”

He had said at the time: “That just seems reasonable to me.”

“I also think women should have spaces — whether it’s in hospitals or prisons or dressing rooms or whatever — dedicated to women.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not immensely sympathetic to people who want to change their gender, and it’s important that we give people the utmost love and support as they make these decisions.”

Bridges has faced backlash after some claims for having competed in a men’s race a month earlier she was about to be banned from competing in the women’s stage of the British National Omnium Championships.

The event would have been the 21-year-old’s debut in a women’s race.

She had been on hormone replacement therapy which had caused her testosterone levels to fall within the limits set by British Cycling.

“It probably wasn’t the right thing,” she said, referring to the then-current men’s race.

“I wanted to do it because I wanted to keep my skills up to date. Right after I went off the track I thought, “I wish I hadn’t done that” because I knew what was coming.

A spokesman for British Cycling has told ITV News that an update on a review of its transgender and non-binary participation policy will be issued soon.

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