Schuyler Bailar: First Openly Transgender NCAA Division I Swimmer

The first ever openly transgender, NCAA Division I athlete is Schuyler Bailar. He was first recruited to Harvard’s women’s swim team while he was still in high school. However, during a gap year, Bailar began transitioning into the man he is today. At first, he was unsure of how the school, his coaches, and teammates would react. Thankfully, they all welcomed him with open arms and made him feel safe and accepted.

During high school, Bailar was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as an eating disorder. After attending therapy sessions and enrolling at Oliver-Pyatt Centers, he was able to talk about not only his eating disorder but also his gender identity. This was the first time he was able to openly talk about his struggle with his identity. Later, he attended gender workshops in Miami, FL where he eventually came to terms with his gender.

Shortly after his discharge in October 2014, he began transitioning. In March 2015, he underwent a double mastectomy surgery, also known as top surgery. In June, he began hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Through his battle with mental health and an eating disorder, as well as discovering his gender identity, Bailar has made it his mission to become an advocate for transgender youth and anyone struggling with their mental health.

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues and eating disorders have been on the rise. It is important that people who are struggling with these issues know that they are not alone, and that there are many people out there who have gone through what they are experiencing and wish to extend a helping hand.

Despite all that, Schuyler Bailar went through during high school, he knew that he did not want to give up his passion of swimming. He was apprehensive at first as he was unsure of how his situation would be handled by the school and his team. Both of the head coaches for the men and women’s teams embrace Bailar and gave him the choice as to which team he wanted to compete with. His teammates were also accepting of him, just as they would be for any other athlete. Gaining strength from the love and acceptance of his friends, family, coaches, and teammates, Bailar has become a role model and advocate for the transgender community.