A Historical Milestone in Spanish Athletics and an Open Debate

Mar Vázquez: A Historical Milestone in Spanish Athletics and an Open Debate

The 61-year-old trans athlete breaks barriers by reaching the podium in the men's masters category, defending her identity and opening new perspectives.

Spanish athletics has witnessed an unprecedented event. Last weekend, at the Galician indoor track championship held in Ourense, Mar Vázquez, a 61-year-old trans athlete, won the bronze medal in the 3,000 meter event. Her achievement is doubly significant: not only is it the first time that a trans athlete stands on an official podium in Spain, but she has done so by competing in the master category 60 male.

This fact marks a before and after in the history of national sports, generating a necessary debate about inclusion and competition in elite and amateur sports. Mar's mark, with a time of 11:23.94, not only earned him bronze, but also gives him the minimum necessary to participate in the imminent Spanish Master Championship, which will take place from March 6 to 8 in Antequera, Malaga.

Mar Vázquez's career is a testimony of courage and perseverance. At 57 years old, he began his transition process, a path marked by six surgical interventions and a notable loss of muscle mass, a direct consequence of the decreased testosterone. Former member of the Civil Guard, Mar has a high caliber sporting past, with a personal mark of 2 hours and 22 minutes in marathonan achievement that earned her runner-up in the world championship in the military category when she was still known as Javier Vázquez.

A resident of Redondela for more than two decades, Mar Vázquez has become a symbol of the fight for inclusion in sport. Their commitment and example of improvement are inspiring. In statements to Radio Redondela, Mar shared his deepest feelings: “I always felt like a woman“He confesses, recognizing the internal struggle he experienced for years when he could not express his true identity.

With the unconditional support of his family, which includes a wife, two children and five grandchildren, and his coach, Mar Vázquez now faces the challenge of competing in the Spanish Masters Championship, proudly defending his identity as a trans woman. Far from avoiding the conversation, Mar has addressed her experience with admirable honesty, sharing her perspective on the competition of trans women in women's categories. He firmly maintains that trans women in adulthoodlike herself, They should not compete in women's categoriesdue to the residual effects of testosterone.

“I see it as unfair to compete against women and that is why I have decided to do it against men,” explains Mar. “I, as an athlete, have gained physical conditions, both muscularly and organically. My lung and heart capacity is much higher than that of a woman.. And I'm proving it. I continue taking hormones and I have almost no testosterone. Currently I have 0.07, when men can reach up to 10.00″, he details clearly.

His argument is based on the results and his own experience as an athlete. “Why do I decide to compete against men? Because the brands are saying it“, he affirms. “This weekend I was third in the Galician championship, in 3,000 meters, a discipline that does not suit my qualities either, I stand out more in long distances, and even so I have been bronze. If I had run with the women I would have been second overall, not in my master 60 category,” she concludes, underlining the difference in performance.

Mar Vázquez takes just one year training after completing all phases of your transition process. He is aware that his sporting potential still has room for improvement. “When I spend more time training I will make much better marks,” he says. “If I competed with women, I'm sure I could even break Spanish or European records, but that's not my goal. I just want that when I go up to a podium people applaud me and not insult me.“, he declares to *La Voz de Galicia*, a wish that resonates strongly in a sport that seeks equity and respect.

This milestone opens the door to a deep dialogue about sports regulations, the inclusion of trans athletes and the need to find models that guarantee sports justice for all people, regardless of their gender identity. Mar Vázquez's story is a reminder that sport, in its essence, must be a space for improvement, respect and celebration of human diversity.