Chelsea Wolfe: Riding to Tokyo On Her Terms

By: Zach Draves

Intense racing, extraordinary freestyle skills, and jaw-dropping stunts gave BMX its name for the last thirty years. 

BMX dedicates itself to improvisation and innovation using zero gravity. 

That free-spiritedness drew Chelsea Wolfe in. 

(Courtesy: OutSports)

She is an openly transgender female rider who is setting her sights on the Toyko Olympics in 2021. There, BMX will make its official debut. 

Not only will this be the first time the world’s best will have their moment to shine, but if all goes well for Chelsea, she will be the first openly transgender Olympian. 

Chelsea broke barriers and opened doors growing up riding bikes and competing in BMX freestyle for 12 years.

(Courtesy: Athlete Ally)

Competing in Tokyo will shatter an arbitrarily constructed glass ceiling. 

For too long societal institutions rendered trans people invisible and forced them into isolation from societal institutions and cultural spaces such as sports. Discriminatory policies and attitudes rooted in an outdated construct of gender caused this injustice.

Chelsea’s’ visibility matters. 

Given that trans representation in public life is more significant than ever, Chelsea’s ascendance in the world of BMX arrived at the right moment. 

(Courtesy: The Bloom BMX)

Progress Despite Monsters

Furthermore, she and other trans athletes are arriving against the backdrop of a profound backlash from right-wing commentators, political organizations, lawmakers, and sports governing bodies. 

All with the intent to erase trans people’s existence. 

While not all of the cycling world supports her, Chelsea sees bright spots of progress.

“Cycling is in a much better place than other sports. We have some protections, and they are not actively trying to get rid of us,” she said. 

“There hasn’t been widespread acceptance, but at least there is more recognition of science and research.”

Also, Chelsea sees the ever-growing movement for trans inclusion in sports. Also, she observes a continuation of the push for greater equality. 

“I have a really good feeling about the organization behind the movement.”

Given that lawmakers rolled back rights and protections, with bigots unleashing scare tactics and alarmingly murdering many trans people, particularly trans women of color, seeing Chelsea and others living, thriving, and surviving is desperately needed. 

We all have to do our part. 

“The biggest thing you can do is to be very open about your support for trans people, queer people, and people of color,” said Chelsea. 

“Advocate from where you are, and the more you advocate, the more safe you make it for people from all backgrounds.”

The movement to equality and inclusion is more potent than hatred and will ultimately win. 

However, we won’t get there by hiding our faces in the sand. 

The rise of Chelsea Wolfe encapsulates one of the most pressing civil rights battles of our time. 

(Courtesy: Shred Girls)

Cherry Pie Advocacy

The fight for access and acceptance and being recognized with humanity is a struggle that is as American as cherry pie. 

The time is now to step up and advocate for the rights and dignity of the trans community in sports and society. 

Chelsea is earning her trip to Tokyo, and she needs and deserves all the support in the world. 

We don’t achieve equality in silos where groups fight against one another in another kind of Olympics, the oppression games. 

As famed LGBTQ activist and commentator Keith Boykin said, “it doesn’t matter which group was first oppressed, most oppressed, or identically oppressed, what matters is that no group of people should be oppressed.”