Nonbinary runner wins big in NYC Marathon

Cal Calamia finished first in the nonbinary category of the NYC Marathon. They are the first transgender person to win in the category.

Calamia, who recently had to fight the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to be allowed to compete, has been instrumental in creating nonbinary divisions in several major marathons nationwide.

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“The first time that I ran a marathon, I ran in the female division,” Calamia said. “And then I started transitioning and realized there wasn’t really a space for people like me to continue to run.”

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Calamia won in a time of 2:48:46.

Calamia, who uses he/they pronouns, has played a major role in developing nonbinary divisions in the Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston Marathons.

“The first time I ever ran in a non-binary division was just the best feeling,” he said. “It was just such an emotionally overwhelming experience to be able to be myself and do the thing that I love and feel like that wasn’t being called into question.”

But he hasn’t just had to advocate for the community. USADA recently investigated Calamia for using testosterone, which is commonly used as part of gender-affirming care by transgender people. The agency said that he could be disciplined and barred from competition since the drug is prohibited for runners competing in USA Track & Field-governed events.

After Calamia took to social media and pleaded their case before the body, the agency relented and granted him a therapeutic use exemption two days before the Chicago Marathon.

“I felt so happy,” Calamia told USA Today, “I just felt like this extremely heavy weight had been lifted, and it just made me feel so optimistic about my future again, that I could continue to run and continue to do my sport and continue to show up and inspire people.”