Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Masters Swimming, claiming the organization misled competitors about who could participate in women’s events. The legal action comes after an investigation that started in May 2025, following reports about the 2025 Spring Nationals swim meet held in San Antonio.
What Sparked the Investigation
The controversy began when reports surfaced that U.S. Masters Swimming allowed competitors who were born male to participate in women’s events during the Spring Nationals. This caught the attention of Paxton’s office, which launched an investigation into the organization’s practices.
The Legal Claims
Paxton’s lawsuit alleges that U.S. Masters Swimming engaged in “false, deceptive, and misleading practices” by initially representing that women’s competitions would be exclusively for female participants, but then allowing male-born competitors to participate and win awards in women’s categories.
The Attorney General’s office argues this creates an unfair competitive environment and deceives consumers about the nature of the competitions they’re entering or supporting.
What Paxton’s Office Says
“U.S. Masters Swimming’s insane policy of allowing men to participate in women’s competitions is both deeply unfair to female competitors and unlawful,” Paxton stated. “The organization has cowered to radical activists pushing gender warfare, and it has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events.”
The lawsuit aims to hold the organization accountable for what Paxton describes as harm to female competitors and deception of consumers.
The Bigger Picture
This case touches on a debate happening across sports at every level – from youth leagues to professional competitions. Questions about fairness, competitive integrity, and inclusion are being argued in courtrooms, legislative chambers, and locker rooms nationwide.
For many female athletes, the concern centers on competitive opportunities and scholarships. Others argue for broader inclusion and equality. It’s a complex issue without easy answers, and courts are increasingly being asked to weigh in.
What’s Next
The lawsuit is now working its way through the legal system. U.S. Masters Swimming will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and present their side of the story.
This case could set precedent for how similar disputes are handled in Texas and potentially influence policies at other swimming organizations across the country.
What Athletes Are Saying
The debate has drawn strong voices from competitive swimmers who’ve experienced these situations firsthand. Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer who competed against transgender athletes, has been particularly vocal about the physical differences.
“We know testosterone has an effect on performance, outcome and strength. Men, on average and this is not opinionated, it’s a fact, men on average are taller, they’re stronger, more powerful, faster than women. Again, to deny that is denying science. We have so much data and scientific evidence that prove this,” Gaines said in a Fox News interview.
The Human Element
Behind the legal arguments and policy debates are real athletes who train countless hours, pour their hearts into competition, and just want a fair chance to excel in their sport. Whatever your position on the issue, that’s something everyone can understand.
The court will ultimately decide whether U.S. Masters Swimming’s policies constitute the deceptive practices alleged in the lawsuit, and what remedies might be appropriate if they do.
Want to read the full legal filing? You can find it linked in the original Attorney General’s office announcement. As this case develops, we’ll keep you updated on how it might affect competitive swimming in Texas and beyond.
