Schuyler Bailar

Schuyler Bailar is an American swimmer, and the first openly transgender NCAA Division I swimmer. He is also the first publicly documented NCAA D1 transgender man to compete as a man in any sport. He was recruited by Harvard University and swims on the Harvard Men's Swimming and Diving team under coach Kevin Tyrrell and as member of the Harvard Class of 2019. Bailar was originally recruited in 2013 as a member of the women's team by Harvard Women’s Swimming and Diving head coach Stephanie Morawski. After transitioning during a gap year, Bailar was also offered a spot on the men’s team by coach Tyrrell, allowing Bailar the choice of either team. He elected to swim on the men’s team, despite the obvious challenges that presented.^[1][2]

Prior to swimming for Harvard, Bailar won many honors in both high school and club swimming including setting a USA Swimming National Age Group record in the 400yd Medley Relay at the 2013 USA Swimming AT&T National Championships with teammates Katie Ledecky, Janet Hu, and Kylie Jordan. Bailar swam for the celebrated Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) at that meet; and the team won the 2013 USA Swimming AT&T National Championship title. Bailar's 100yd breaststroke swim at the 2013 NCSA Junior National Championships qualified for the U.S. Open, the fastest national championship meet. Bailar is also multi-year qualifier for the NCSA Jr. Nationals.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Early life

Bailar was born in New York City to parents Gregor Bailar and Terry Hong. Bailar grew up in McLean, Virginia where he lived until going to college. Bailar attended Georgetown Day School from kindergarten through 12th grade. He has one brother, Jinwon, who also swims.^[8][9]

Swimming

Bailar started swimming when he was about one year old. When he was four, his family joined a neighborhood summer club and he began swimming for the Langley Wildthings at the Langley Swim and Tennis Club. The Wildthings are a part of the storied Northern Virginia Swimming League for which Bailar would eventually podium in their overall All-Star championships. Bailar swam for the Wildthings nearly every summer as his love for swimming grew. In 2005, at the age of nine, Bailar joined Sea Devil Swimming (previously known as the Capitol Sea Devils) - a year-round USA Swimming sanctioned club team. Under coach Ron Larkin, his true love of competitive swimming began. Bailar competed in the Potomac Valley LSC of USA Swimming and quickly rose through the ladder of swimming championships. At age 10 he competed at the 2007 Potomac Valley Junior Olympics. He continued up the ladder to the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 JOs and the 2010, 2011, 2012 Eastern Zones.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

Bailar set school records in nearly every event at Georgetown Day School. Bailar’s broader high school titles include 1st place in both 2013 and 2014 in 100yd breaststroke at the Washington, D.C. Independent School League Championships (a.k.a. ISLs), the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Preparatory School Swimming and Diving League (a.k.a. WMPSSDLs) Championships and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships (a.k.a. Metros). Bailar was a 2-time All American (NICSA) for 100yd breast, A Potomac Valley Scholar Athlete and a USA Swimming Scholastic All American.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]}

At the national level of competitive swimming, Bailar won many honors in both high school and club swimming including setting a USA Swimming National Age Group record in the 400yd Medley Relay at the 2013 USA Swimming AT&T National Championships with teammates Katie Ledecky, Janet Hu, and Kylie Jordan. Bailar swam for the celebrated Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) at that meet; and the team won the 2013 USA Swimming AT&T National Championship title. Bailar's 100yd breaststroke swim at the 2013 NCSA Junior National Championships qualified for the U.S. Open, the fastest national championship meet. Bailar is also multi-year qualifier for the NCSA Jr. Nationals.^{[28][29][30][31][32]}

Activism and Acclaim

Bailar was awarded the SMYAL Community Advocate Award for 2016 for his work as "a vocal advocate for LGBT rights."^[33] The 60 Minutes profile of Schuyler entitled "Switching Teams" was nominated for the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.^[34] On June 28th, 2017 Bailar was profiled by the International Olympic Committee in a series entitled IDENTIFY for his activism in promoting gender inclusion in sports. ^{[35] [36] [37]}

Health and transition

Bailar began struggling with mental health issues in the fall of 2012, his junior year in high school. He went to therapy and later enrolled at Oliver-Pyatt Centers, a residential treatment center for eating disorders, where he was first able to discuss his gender identity aloud. Bailar attended gender workshops at the YES! Institute in Miami, Florida, which he says helped him realize and come to terms with his gender. Shortly after his discharge from the center in October 2014, he began transitioning. He underwent top surgery in March 2015 and began hormone replacement therapy in June. He reported on his progress via social media, and MTV selected the Washington Post coverage of Bailar for 2015's Best Moments for the Trans Community.^[38]

References