Minna Svard

Thank you so much for having me.

Thank you so much for having me.

I started talking to some different coaches in America about getting the chance to get a full ride scholarship and go over there to, you know, experience the American way of doing things, getting the chance to get my education while continuing my athletic career.

I started talking to some different coaches in America about getting the chance to get a full ride scholarship and go over there to, you know, experience the American way of doing things, getting the chance to get my education while continuing my athletic career.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

I went to a school in Texas. At the time, it was called Texas A&M University Commerce.

I went to a school in Texas. At the time, it was called Texas A&M University Commerce.

At this point, I'm not competing at the same level anymore. I'm still practicing.

At this point, I'm not competing at the same level anymore. I'm still practicing.

Oh, when I went to Texas. Okay. It was going really well. I had a great experience there. until 2019 at the national championship. But other than that, me as an athlete, I developed and I, I did really good.

Oh, when I went to Texas. Okay. It was going really well. I had a great experience there. until 2019 at the national championship. But other than that, me as an athlete, I developed and I, I did really good.

So in 2019, I qualified for the national championship and division two. Um, I was going to run the 400 hurdles, um, for a few weeks prior to getting to the competition. I heard a lot of rumors going around that, um, I would be competing against the male competitor. Um, So, you know, coming up to the competition, I was trying to focus on myself and making sure that I got ready for the meet.

So in 2019, I qualified for the national championship and division two. Um, I was going to run the 400 hurdles, um, for a few weeks prior to getting to the competition. I heard a lot of rumors going around that, um, I would be competing against the male competitor. Um, So, you know, coming up to the competition, I was trying to focus on myself and making sure that I got ready for the meet.

But yeah, showing up at the track competition, one of the competitors that qualified was a man, took a spot from one of the females that would have been able to be at the national championship. So that was a very shocking experience for me. It was not something that I expected.

But yeah, showing up at the track competition, one of the competitors that qualified was a man, took a spot from one of the females that would have been able to be at the national championship. So that was a very shocking experience for me. It was not something that I expected.

Personally, I found out just a few weeks prior to the actual competition.

Personally, I found out just a few weeks prior to the actual competition.

I tried to focus on myself more, you know, because I can't affect anyone else's results on the track. So I tried to focus on myself to make sure that I am ready for whenever I need to be. But I heard it from teammates and other people in the track community talking about it. So, yeah.

I tried to focus on myself more, you know, because I can't affect anyone else's results on the track. So I tried to focus on myself to make sure that I am ready for whenever I need to be. But I heard it from teammates and other people in the track community talking about it. So, yeah.

You're stuck with this deal with it. So how did that make you feel?

You're stuck with this deal with it. So how did that make you feel?

Two years prior, he competed as a man.

Two years prior, he competed as a man.

Yeah, somewhere around there. And then two years later, he won the national championship for women. Something that we've been fighting for years.

Yeah, somewhere around there. And then two years later, he won the national championship for women. Something that we've been fighting for years.

Yeah. Look at the video. We're not even in the picture when he's crossing the finish line. And taking that moment away from, in this situation, me, but in other situations, any woman.

Yeah. Look at the video. We're not even in the picture when he's crossing the finish line. And taking that moment away from, in this situation, me, but in other situations, any woman.

Yes, ma'am. That was the year I placed second at the national championship.

Yes, ma'am. That was the year I placed second at the national championship.

400 meter hurdles.

400 meter hurdles.

Yes, ma'am. I would have.

Yes, ma'am. I would have.

I tried to pretend like everything was fine. I remember crossing the finish line and I started tearing up and I wiped it really quick to try to hide it from everybody else. Because even though I knew a lot of people felt the same way I did, no one spoke up, no one dared to say anything. When we were at the meet, you could feel it in the air that something was different.

I tried to pretend like everything was fine. I remember crossing the finish line and I started tearing up and I wiped it really quick to try to hide it from everybody else. Because even though I knew a lot of people felt the same way I did, no one spoke up, no one dared to say anything. When we were at the meet, you could feel it in the air that something was different.

In the speakers, they called out that we had to show sportsmanship and that we had to be inclusive. And that's something that I hadn't heard at a national championship for the NCAA prior to what was happening at this meet. So I felt like I had to be quiet.

In the speakers, they called out that we had to show sportsmanship and that we had to be inclusive. And that's something that I hadn't heard at a national championship for the NCAA prior to what was happening at this meet. So I felt like I had to be quiet.

I want NCAA to give back what was ours, the females that lost their trophies their recognition their records they need to get back whatever they deserved and take it from the men because men have no place in women's sports that is why we have two separate categories in sports because we shouldn't mix that uh

I want NCAA to give back what was ours, the females that lost their trophies their recognition their records they need to get back whatever they deserved and take it from the men because men have no place in women's sports that is why we have two separate categories in sports because we shouldn't mix that uh

And I also feel like it's really important that we actually make sure that this don't happen again so that upcoming females don't have to deal with this issue and they shouldn't have to go through this. Because when you're entering in the NCAA, when you're entering and competing there, you expect the NCAA to be there and protect you and support you because that's what they're supposed to do.

And I also feel like it's really important that we actually make sure that this don't happen again so that upcoming females don't have to deal with this issue and they shouldn't have to go through this. Because when you're entering in the NCAA, when you're entering and competing there, you expect the NCAA to be there and protect you and support you because that's what they're supposed to do.

What would NCAA be without their athletes? So why wouldn't they want to make sure that we are safe and that we are protected and that we get what we deserve?

What would NCAA be without their athletes? So why wouldn't they want to make sure that we are safe and that we are protected and that we get what we deserve?

It's everything that I fought for since I was four years old. I started track and field when I was four years old. I knew that I wanted to go somewhere with this. I knew that I wanted to become the best that I could. And that moment in 2019, I had worked for that moment for years. And it got taken away from me.

It's everything that I fought for since I was four years old. I started track and field when I was four years old. I knew that I wanted to go somewhere with this. I knew that I wanted to become the best that I could. And that moment in 2019, I had worked for that moment for years. And it got taken away from me.

And even though, yeah, you can get a trophy back, you can get the recognition now, but like the moment will be lost forever. So NCAA has done things to women that will never be able to be completely fixed. But that's why I feel like it's really important that people understand how severe this has been for women in sports.

And even though, yeah, you can get a trophy back, you can get the recognition now, but like the moment will be lost forever. So NCAA has done things to women that will never be able to be completely fixed. But that's why I feel like it's really important that people understand how severe this has been for women in sports.

It's so many emotions at once. It's... you bottle up all like the sweat, all the hard work, all the tears, all the happy times in practice, like all of it, it just comes out at the same time. And you feel, when I crossed the finish line in 2022, when I won the national championship, I was so proud of myself. I didn't need, I don't think I can put words on how I felt,

It's so many emotions at once. It's... you bottle up all like the sweat, all the hard work, all the tears, all the happy times in practice, like all of it, it just comes out at the same time. And you feel, when I crossed the finish line in 2022, when I won the national championship, I was so proud of myself. I didn't need, I don't think I can put words on how I felt,

It was just everything that I had been wanting and worked for for so long.

It was just everything that I had been wanting and worked for for so long.

I honestly don't know. I don't trust the NCAA no more. All of that went out the window when I had to step on the track and compete against the man. So my trust for them is very low. But you can always hope, and that's what we're fighting for. We want it. We want that to happen. That's right. But if it doesn't, that's a different thing.

I honestly don't know. I don't trust the NCAA no more. All of that went out the window when I had to step on the track and compete against the man. So my trust for them is very low. But you can always hope, and that's what we're fighting for. We want it. We want that to happen. That's right. But if it doesn't, that's a different thing.

It makes me really annoyed because everything that I hear is him expressing his emotions. But for all this time, we have been asked, we women have been asked to be quiet and keep our emotions quiet just to please someone else or another group of people. So that makes me really frustrated.

It makes me really annoyed because everything that I hear is him expressing his emotions. But for all this time, we have been asked, we women have been asked to be quiet and keep our emotions quiet just to please someone else or another group of people. So that makes me really frustrated.

Well, when it happened, since it was the first time it ever happened in the NCAA history, everybody was kind of quiet about it. They didn't know how to react. My coaches were supporting me. At school. But other than that, we were just keeping quiet.

Well, when it happened, since it was the first time it ever happened in the NCAA history, everybody was kind of quiet about it. They didn't know how to react. My coaches were supporting me. At school. But other than that, we were just keeping quiet.

I don't know if I'm able to. I don't know if I can. But if I could, that would be something that I might want to do.

I don't know if I'm able to. I don't know if I can. But if I could, that would be something that I might want to do.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thank you so much for having me.

I started talking to some different coaches in America about getting the chance to get a full ride scholarship and go over there to, you know, experience the American way of doing things, getting the chance to get my education while continuing my athletic career.

Yes, ma'am.

I went to a school in Texas. At the time, it was called Texas A&M University Commerce.

At this point, I'm not competing at the same level anymore. I'm still practicing.

Oh, when I went to Texas. Okay. It was going really well. I had a great experience there. until 2019 at the national championship. But other than that, me as an athlete, I developed and I, I did really good.

So in 2019, I qualified for the national championship and division two. Um, I was going to run the 400 hurdles, um, for a few weeks prior to getting to the competition. I heard a lot of rumors going around that, um, I would be competing against the male competitor. Um, So, you know, coming up to the competition, I was trying to focus on myself and making sure that I got ready for the meet.

But yeah, showing up at the track competition, one of the competitors that qualified was a man, took a spot from one of the females that would have been able to be at the national championship. So that was a very shocking experience for me. It was not something that I expected.

Personally, I found out just a few weeks prior to the actual competition.

I tried to focus on myself more, you know, because I can't affect anyone else's results on the track. So I tried to focus on myself to make sure that I am ready for whenever I need to be. But I heard it from teammates and other people in the track community talking about it. So, yeah.

You're stuck with this deal with it. So how did that make you feel?

Two years prior, he competed as a man.

Yeah, somewhere around there. And then two years later, he won the national championship for women. Something that we've been fighting for years.

Yeah. Look at the video. We're not even in the picture when he's crossing the finish line. And taking that moment away from, in this situation, me, but in other situations, any woman.

Yes, ma'am. That was the year I placed second at the national championship.

400 meter hurdles.

Yes, ma'am. I would have.

I tried to pretend like everything was fine. I remember crossing the finish line and I started tearing up and I wiped it really quick to try to hide it from everybody else. Because even though I knew a lot of people felt the same way I did, no one spoke up, no one dared to say anything. When we were at the meet, you could feel it in the air that something was different.

In the speakers, they called out that we had to show sportsmanship and that we had to be inclusive. And that's something that I hadn't heard at a national championship for the NCAA prior to what was happening at this meet. So I felt like I had to be quiet.

I want NCAA to give back what was ours, the females that lost their trophies their recognition their records they need to get back whatever they deserved and take it from the men because men have no place in women's sports that is why we have two separate categories in sports because we shouldn't mix that uh

And I also feel like it's really important that we actually make sure that this don't happen again so that upcoming females don't have to deal with this issue and they shouldn't have to go through this. Because when you're entering in the NCAA, when you're entering and competing there, you expect the NCAA to be there and protect you and support you because that's what they're supposed to do.

What would NCAA be without their athletes? So why wouldn't they want to make sure that we are safe and that we are protected and that we get what we deserve?

It's everything that I fought for since I was four years old. I started track and field when I was four years old. I knew that I wanted to go somewhere with this. I knew that I wanted to become the best that I could. And that moment in 2019, I had worked for that moment for years. And it got taken away from me.

And even though, yeah, you can get a trophy back, you can get the recognition now, but like the moment will be lost forever. So NCAA has done things to women that will never be able to be completely fixed. But that's why I feel like it's really important that people understand how severe this has been for women in sports.

It's so many emotions at once. It's... you bottle up all like the sweat, all the hard work, all the tears, all the happy times in practice, like all of it, it just comes out at the same time. And you feel, when I crossed the finish line in 2022, when I won the national championship, I was so proud of myself. I didn't need, I don't think I can put words on how I felt,

It was just everything that I had been wanting and worked for for so long.

I honestly don't know. I don't trust the NCAA no more. All of that went out the window when I had to step on the track and compete against the man. So my trust for them is very low. But you can always hope, and that's what we're fighting for. We want it. We want that to happen. That's right. But if it doesn't, that's a different thing.

It makes me really annoyed because everything that I hear is him expressing his emotions. But for all this time, we have been asked, we women have been asked to be quiet and keep our emotions quiet just to please someone else or another group of people. So that makes me really frustrated.

Well, when it happened, since it was the first time it ever happened in the NCAA history, everybody was kind of quiet about it. They didn't know how to react. My coaches were supporting me. At school. But other than that, we were just keeping quiet.

I don't know if I'm able to. I don't know if I can. But if I could, that would be something that I might want to do.

Thank you so much for having me.