ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit Speaks Out On Opposition To Transgender Athletes In Women’s Sports

ESPN’s longtime College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit has repeated his disagreement with transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. He also expressed frustration with what he sees as a lack of open discussion on the topic.

In a recent interview on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me! with Dan Dakich, Herbstreit elaborated on his brief social media response to a question about whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports, to which he had replied, “Of course not. Ridiculous question.”

The broadcaster revealed he has been restraining his opinions on various topics for years but has reached a point where he’s no longer concerned about potential backlash. “I’m done giving any s—- at all about any of it,” Herbstreit stated, using strong language to emphasize his stance.

Herbstreit, who has been with College GameDay since 1996, suggested there’s a double standard in public discourse, particularly for those with traditional or Christian viewpoints. He expressed relief at feeling able to voice his opinions more freely, though he acknowledged the need to temper his reactions due to what he described as his quick temper.

The analyst disclosed that ESPN did not contact him regarding his social media comments. He speculated that if he had a daughter instead of his four sons, he might be even more outspoken on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Herbstreit’s comments come amidst ongoing debates about transgender athletes participation in sports, recently highlighted by controversies at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where two female boxers who had failed gender identity tests in the past were allowed to compete. He hinted at a desire to speak more openly on such issues upon retirement, suggesting current professional constraints on his public statements.

The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports is still a hot topic, with people arguing about fairness, inclusion, and what sports competitions should be like. Herbstreit’s strong opinion shows that more public figures are willing to speak out on this controversial issue, even if it might attract criticism.