Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies broke down in tears as she spoke about receiving “death threats” after she stood up against transgender rights in sport.
The 62-year-old campaigner sobbed as she delivered a speech at the Women, Force For Change Free Iran 2025 conference in Paris, which was focused on celebrating the role of women in the fight to overthrow the Ayatollah in Iran.
“Many people see me as this tough athlete and campaigner, and I do face so much hate and bullying online for my beliefs,” she told the audience.
“But nothing could be further from the truth. I am as sensitive as the next woman and of course I get upset.”
Drawing parallels with her own experiences, Davies spoke about her battles with sports authorities over transgender participation in women’s events
PA
Drawing parallels between the plight of women in Iran and her own experiences, Davies spoke about her battles with sports authorities over transgender participation in women’s events.
“When I started my fight against the [International Olympic Committee], it was an extremely difficult battle,” she revealed.
She described how activists threatened her livelihood, her life, and even her children’s safety.
“So I decided I wasn’t going to buckle, just like you’re not buckling. My challenge was nothing like yours. I’m not comparing it. I’m just saying a tiny bit of me understands how difficult it is,” Davies told the conference.
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The Olympic silver medallist, who was awarded an MBE in 1993, has gained recognition for her efforts to expose performance-enhancing drugs in sport.
She said the same passion that drove her previous campaigns now motivates her support for the NCRI cause.
Davies warned about a concerning rise in misogyny, even in Western nations, highlighting situations where female nurses must share changing rooms with biological males.
She explained that this type of sexism is “much more hidden and thus much more sinister”.
The Olympian opened up, saying that she was forced to endure threats on social media – which were typically from anonymous accounts
PA
The Olympian opened up, saying that she was forced to endure threats on social media – which were typically from anonymous accounts.
“When I started to call them out they backed down… whereas my motto is never back down,” Davies declared.
“I think the trans thing is ruining it for the LGB community. Though I do sense that society is now trying to push back on trans.
“Social media changed the world and changes the world. Most of what I get is threats – done of course behind an anonymous name, because they are cowards,” she said.
