The Winter Olympics kick off this Friday in Northern Italy, and it will feature a single out trans athlete. 

Elis Lundholm, a freestyle mogul skier representing Sweden, will compete in the female category despite being a transgender man. 24-year-old Lundholm says he has “always been treated well” by the women he competes alongside. 

---

---

Nevertheless, he also knows that as his profile elevates to the national stage, an increase in hate is inevitable. But Lundholm isn’t letting that specter break his spirit. 

“Of course it’s something I thought about,” he told Aftonbladet. “You can hear the voices out there. But then I do my thing and don’t give a damn.” Outsportscalled his attitude “pitch-perfect and inspiring.”

Outsports also said that to the publication’s knowledge, Lundholm is the first out trans athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics. 

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) has a strict anti-trans policybanning anyone with an SRY gene – usually found on the Y chromosome – from competing in a women’s category. While the rules for trans men appear to be more lax, many have speculated that Lundholm has not undergone hormone therapy, which is why he competes with the women.

Anti-trans advocate Jamie Reed posted what appeared to be a complaint on social media about Lundholm’s participation in the Olympic Games. She then clarified she was actually celebrating that Lundholm – whom she repeatedly misgendered – was competing in the women’s category. 

“This is a good thing,” Reed wrote in response to someone calling out her hypocrisy. Others on the right have echoed this, but not all are thrilled, despite the fact that this setup is actually what they have been fighting for. 

The conservative account, The American Girl, for example, seemed genuinely confused about Lundholm’s gender and sex, but nevertheless posted a transphobic message. “Sweden has a mentally ill MAN named Elis Lundholm who thinks he’s a woman competing in moguls. Hope he loses.

Trans advocates are mixed on the situation. While they are happy for Lundholm, they are also upset that he has to compete with women. 

On Reddit, one person lamented, “It’s insane that ‘progress’ now is considered trans people misgendering themselves and having to pay lip service to the ‘what you were assigned at birth is your rEAL sEX ForEVer’ ideology. And the actual transphobes will still be shi**y about it.”

Another commenter said the moment should still be celebrated. “Trans people competing and being out is still resistance,” they declared.