Transgender wrestler booed in Texas final

INCREDIBLE footage shows the moment a transgender athlete won a wrestling title. But boos rang out from a hostile crowd. Here’s why.

John Cena Serenades Philly Crowd With Rendition of 'Fly, Eagles Fly' at WWE Raw. Credit - Twitter/CanvasTheory via Storyful

MACK Beggs just bagged the Texas girls’ Class 6A 110-pound (49kg) division wrestling competition for the second time.

But as the 18-year-old rolled out of a possible pinfall to avoid defeat and win the prestigious title, the reaction from the crowd was hostile. Footage from the scene shows boos ringing out shortly after the final whistle blows.

This is because the undefeated wrestler has been dogged by controversy ever since he began transitioning from female to male and taking a low-dose of testosterone.It was his steroid therapy treatments while wrestling girls that stirred a fierce debate about competitive fairness and transgender rights last season. It’s been a lot quieter since last year when his march to a state championship was soured by a last-minute lawsuit that tried to stop him.

However, Beggs recently told the Dallas Morning News, he has fended off the criticism and focused on his sport.

“That (the criticism) didn’t stop me from competing. That didn’t stop me from being who I was,” he said.

“It sure as hell didn’t stop me from doing what I wanted to do in the past, and it won’t stop me from what I want to do in the future.