Chris Mosier

Chris Mosier
Mosier in 2018
Personal information
Nationality American
Born 1980 (age 37–38)[1][2]
Chicago, Illinois[3]
Residence New York City
Spouse(s) Zhen Heinemann
Sport
Sport Running
Event(s) Triathlon, duathlon
College team Northern Michigan University[4]

Chris Mosier is an American transgender advocate, triathlete, and speaker and is one of the most influential transgender figures in sporting history[5]. He started his athletic career before transitioning, started his transition in 2010, and in 2015 earned a spot on the Team USA sprint duathlon men's team for the 2016 World Championship, making him the first known out trans athlete to join a U.S. national team different from his gender assigned at birth.[6][7]

While he qualified, Mosier was uncertain about his eligibility to compete in the Duathlon Age Group World Championship Race in Spain in June 2016 due to the International Olympic Committee policy around the participation of transgender athletes,[8] with specific provisions from the Stockholm Consensus in 2004.[9] In 2015, Mosier challenged the policy,[10] resulting in the creation and adoption of new IOC guidelines for the participation of transgender athletes.[11] Mosier was considered the catalyst for change in the policy in January 2016,[12] after he successfully advocated for change in the policy[13] to allow his participation in the World Championship and future races. Following the policy change, in 2016 Mosier raced in the International Triathlon Union Sprint Duathlon World Championship race in Aviles, Spain, becoming the first known transgender athlete to compete in the World Championship race.[14]

Mosier began competing in triathlon in 2009 as female. In 2010, Mosier publicly self-identified as a transgender man[15] in a leading American gay magazine, The Advocate, after competing in his first race as male. In 2011, Mosier was featured in The New York Times[1] prior to competing in the Nautica New York City Triathlon, a race he competed in two years prior as female.

In 2016, Mosier was chosen as the first openly transgender athlete to be featured in the "Body Issue" of ESPN The Magazine.[16]

He was also the first transgender athlete to featured in a Nike advertisement, which debuted during Prime Time[17] of the Rio Olympics in 2016. The award-winning[18][19] ad showcases Mosier’s courage as a trailblazing, inspirational athlete and role model.[20]

Mosier lives in New York City.[21]

Activism

Mosier is the founder[22] of transathlete.com, a resource for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics at various levels of play. He also works with LGBTQ sports leagues to improve transgender inclusion.[4] Mosier has spoken at across the world about inclusion in sports, his experience as a transgender athlete, athlete activism, and creating more inclusive spaces[23].

Mosier is currently Vice President of Program Development and Community Relations for You Can Play,[20] an organization that works to ensure the safety and inclusion of all in sports - including LGBTQ athletes, coaches, and fans.[24]

Previously, Mosier was the Executive Director of GO! Athletes, a national non-profit network of current and former LGBTQ high school and college student-athletes which creates safer spaces in athletics through visibility, education, and advocacy.[25]

Mosier previously blogged for Original Plumbing, a magazine for trans men.[26]

Gender transition

Mosier struggled with gender identity at a young age. He knew at the age of four years that his gender identity (male) and biological sex (female) did not match. He began his transition in 2010 when he legally changed his name, and then began to receive testosterone injections. By making this transition, Chris gave up his top ranking in the women's category. Since transitioning, Chris has received overwhelmingly positive receptions from fellow athletes.[27]

Chris spoke about his experience with Chicago GoPride, saying, "Competing as a woman, I thought about gender all the time, to a point where it interfered with my ability to be successful because I didn't feel comfortable at races. Now, I feel more able to focus and gender doesn't come up as much." [28]

Coaching activity

Chris is a USA Triathlon certified coach. He is interested in helping others reach their athletic goals, particularly LGBT youth. Being an educator as well, Chris is aware of the opportunity to share his knowledge and to speak out as a voice of transgender experience for those who cannot. Mosier has also been a coach and ambassador for the Empire Triathlon Club in NYC since 2012[29], and in 2017 began coaching at EDGE Athlete Lounge in Chicago, Illinois[30]. In 2014, he was named 2014's Best Personal Trainer of the Northeast[31] by Competitor Magazine.

Athletic achievements

Mosier made Team USA for the first time in sprint duathlon in 2015.[32] He made the long course duathlon team in 2016 at a race in Cary, North Carolina.[33] He secured his place on his third Team USA team in sprint triathlon at the Draft Legal Triathlon World Championship Qualifier race, where he placed third in his age group.[34] Mosier made his fourth Team USA team in long course duathlon in the 2017 National Championship, where he placed 2nd in his age group.[35]

He is still interested in competing at the highest level, and in 2014 won two races in the male category [36][37] and won his age group in an iron-distance triathlon, finishing 4th place overall.[38] In 2016, Mosier earned All-American honors in duathlon.[39]

Awards

In 2011, Mosier was one of three finalists for the Compete Magazine Athlete of the Year award in 2011.

In 2011, Mosier was given an honorable mention by USA Triathlon for the 2011 USAT Spirit of Multisport Awards.[40] Mosier was honored for his work in promoting trans visibility and LGBT inclusion in multisport and his commitment to advocating for all people to have the opportunity to feel safe, compete, and thrive in sports.[3]

In 2013, Mosier was named Athlete of the Year[41] at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards in Los Angeles, California.

Mosier was named to the 2014 Trans 100 list. The "Trans 100" is an annual list of some of the most prominent and influential individuals who identify as trans and are actively working towards creating a better world for the transgender community.[42]

In 2014, Mosier was named as an inductee into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame, thus making him the first openly transgender man inducted.[43][44]

In 2014 Mosier was also included as part of The Advocate's annual "40 Under 40" list.[43]

In 2014, he was named 2014's Best Personal Trainer of the Northeast[31] by Competitor Magazine.

In 2015, Mosier was honored by USA Triathlon as the 2014 Jeff Jewell Spirit of Multisport award winner.[45]

In 2015, Mosier was awarded the Sports Pillar Award from the World OutGames Miami 2017 at the organization's Bronze Bash event.[46]

In 2016, Mosier was named Outsports Person of the Year.[47]

In 2016, Mosier was named to the Out Magazine OUT100 list.[48]

In 2016, Mosier earned All-American honors in duathlon.[39]

In 2018, Mosier was named as a Beyond Sport Ambassador.[49]

Mosier's previous sponsors include TRX and Odwalla.

References

  1. 1 2 Dreier, Frederick (6 August 2011). "For Transgender Triathlete, a Top Finish in New York Is Secondary". The New York Times. p. 6. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ Forman, Ross (November 20, 2013). "Chicago native Mosier transitions into triathlon star". Windy City Times. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  3. ↑ Preston, Kinley. "Chris Mosier interview with ChicagoPride.com". Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Lauren Steele (2 August 2016). "Chris Mosier on Making History as First Trans Member of Team USA". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Prominence of LGBT+ figures offers example for others to follow". The Student. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  6. ↑ Triathlete Chris Mosier Joins Men of Team USA, Making Transgender Sports History | Advocate.com
  7. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (7 June 2015). "Trans endurance athlete Chris Mosier earns spot on Team USA". Outsports. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Trans triathlete Chris Mosier may be barred from competing at World Championships". Outsports. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  9. ↑ "Olympic News - Official Source of Olympic News". Olympic.org. 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  10. ↑ ThinkProgress. "The Olympics Are Now Much Friendlier For Transgender Athletes — ThinkProgress". Thinkprogress.org. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  11. ↑ "Exclusive: Read the Olympics' new transgender guidelines that will not mandate surgery". Outsports. 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  12. ↑ "The Trans Athlete Behind the Olympic Committee's New Gender Policy". The Cut. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  13. ↑ "The Transgender Man Who Changed the Olympics, Sportshour - BBC World Service". BBC. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  14. ↑ "Mosier breaks ground at duathlon championship". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  15. ↑ Mosier, Chris (2014-11-02). "An Iron Man". The Advocate. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  16. ↑ Stack, Liam (2016-06-23). "Chris Mosier is First Transgender Athlete in ESPN's 'Body Issue'". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ "Chris Mosier Gets His Own Nike Commercial Shown During Olympics. | Instinct". instinctmagazine.com. 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  18. ↑ "PRETTYBIRD Shines at Cannes Lions 2017". PRETTYBIRD. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  19. ↑ "PRETTYBIRD Takes Home Music Video and Advertising Excellence AICP Awards". PRETTYBIRD. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  20. 1 2 "Team USA Athlete and LGBTQ Advocate Chris Mosier Joins the You Can Play Team as Vice President". www.youcanplayproject.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  21. ↑ Hollenbeck, Annie (2014-08-19). "Chris Mosier Wants Trans People to Feel Comfortable Playing the Sport They Love". Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (2013-11-15). "Chris Mosier launches transathlete.com". Outsports. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Speaking Engagements". Chris Mosier. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  24. ↑ "Mission Statement". www.youcanplayproject.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  25. ↑ "home page". GO! Athletes. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  26. ↑ "Chris Mosier - Original Plumbing". Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  27. ↑ Frederick, Dreier. "For Transgender Triathlete, a Top Finish in New York is Secondary". The New York Times.
  28. ↑ Heffernan, Dani (2011-11-07). "Transgender Triathlete Chris Mosier on Transition and Inclusivity in Sports".
  29. ↑ "Coaches & Ambassadors". Empire Tri Club. Empire Tri Club. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  30. ↑ "Coaches | EDGE Athlete Lounge". EDGE Athlete Lounge. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  31. 1 2 Competitor.com (2014-12-30). "Best of Competitor 2014 - Northeast Region". running.competitor.com/2014/12/news/best-competitor-2014-northeast-region_120512. Competitor.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "From the Mag: Will Team USA's first out transgender athlete be allowed to compete?". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  33. ↑ "Chris Mosier earns spot on second US national team". Outsports. 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  34. ↑ thechrismosier (2017-05-06). "Team USA qualifier: sprint triathlon". Chris Mosier. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  35. ↑ "Chris Mosier takes 2nd place at National Championship in North Carolina". Outsports. 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  36. ↑ Mosier, Chris (2014-09-16). "1st Place overall". Chris Mosier Blog. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  37. ↑ Mosier, Chris (January 2015). "2014 in review". Chris Mosier Blog. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  38. ↑ Mosier, Chris (2014-01-22). "1st Place AG". Chris Mosier Blog. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Chris Mosier earns All-American status". Outsports. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  40. ↑ "USA Triathlon Announces First-Ever Multisport Award Winners". USA Triathlon. February 7, 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  41. ↑ Wardman, Connie. "Chris Mosier - 2013 Athlete of the Year". Compete Sports. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Mosier named to Trans 100 lists". thetrans100.com/. 2014-04-09.
  43. 1 2 Hollenbeck, Annie (2014-08-19). "40 Under 40: Chris Mosier Wants Trans People to Feel Comfortable Playing the Sport They Love". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  44. ↑ News Release. "National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame names 2014 Inductees". GoPride.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Honor 2014 Athletes of the Year and Multisport Award Winners in Milwaukee on Aug. 6". USAT. USA Triathlon. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  46. ↑ "World OutGames 2017". Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  47. ↑ "Outsports Person of the Year: Chris Mosier". Outsports. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  48. ↑ "OUT100 2016". 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  49. ↑ "Beyond Sport". www.beyondsport.org. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
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