Cal Calamia almost didn’t make it to the New York City Marathon.
A few months ago, the lifelong runner received a message from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informing them they were at risk of being ruled ineligible due to testosterone usage.
Calamia identifies as nonbinary transmasculine, and uses testosterone for gender-affirming medical care.
They fought for their right to compete, earning a therapeutic use exemption through 2032. Last weekend, they finished first in the nonbinary category, becoming the third winner in the division’s history.
“In June, I did a panel with the NYRR and FRNY about non-binary inclusion in running. Someone saw it and reported me to USADA. I kicked into full overdrive to protect the future of trans athletes,” Calamia posted on Instagram.
“I was heartbroken at the thought of losing running– of being unable to step up to the start and these major races. Today, I not only got to do what I love, but I closed this chapter where it opened in the best possible way.”
Fittingly, Calamia wrapped themselves in the Transgender Pride Flag at the finish line.
Calamia recently shared their story with Outsports. They spoke about being an NCAA Division I track and field athlete at St. Louis University, while simultaneously struggling with their identity.
“I was struggling. I didn’t have words for what I was feeling but I didn’t like it,” they said. “It affected my relationship with running. It affected everything, not being right with my identity and not being right with my gender.”
The San Francisco resident came out as nonbinary transmasculine in 2018, and their place in the world started to make more sense. The following year, Calamia underwent “top” surgery, which removes breast tissue.
Finally, they felt free.
“It was super euphoric because I could run around with just shorts and I felt so like myself,” Calamia told The Washington Post.
Through it all, Calamia kept running, though they suffered plenty of indignities along the way. Before races had nonbinary divisions, they would be forced to register themself as either a man or woman.
“I’m not a cisgender man,” they said. “I identify with masculinity, but I’m nonbinary.”
Zachary Harris, the first nonbinary winner in NYC Marathon history, once compared being forced to identify themself as “male” or “female” to being “pricked with a needle.”
Leading up to NYC, Calamia won the nonbinary division in the San Francisco Marathon, and competed in their fourth Chicago Marathon.
“Each time I pin on a bib, I realize how much has changed since the last time. I feel a little more brave, a little more true, and a little more equipped to stand up for a future in which we don’t need anyone’s permission to be who we are,” they posted last month on Instagram.
A seminal moment for Calamia came in April, when they raced in the Boston Marathon’s nonbinary division. Five of the six largest marathons now include nonbinary categories.
“This experience was everything I’ve always dreamed of and more. I’ve spent the past few days surrounded by love and support in person and from afar,” they wrote.
“I am running for new narratives about trans people in sports. We are writing history right now.”
Despite his triumphs, Calamia knows there is a long way to go. To apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TPE), they needed to check off one of two options on the gender form: male or female.
Calamia left both of them blank.
The USADA also asked for a full accounting of his medical history, including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Calamia found the process to be invasive.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s discrimination,” they told Outsports. “Why are testosterone levels only weaponized against trans people when the human variance of testosterone levels in the human population is so vast? It’s an easy way to be transphobic.”
An activist, Calamia recognizes there’s strength in numbers. They founded a nonbinary running club in San Francisco with regular meetups.
The goal is to bring trans and nonbinary runners together. They’ve already successfully pushed for nonbinary divisions, changing the landscape of competitive running in the process.
“The trans experience is beautiful and I’m here for the trans magic,” said Calamia. “I’m here for everyone embracing every part of themselves and not being afraid to take up that space.”
Every time Calamia crosses the finish line, they show they belong. With over 100,000 followers on social media (Instagram and TikTok), Calamia is blessed with a huge platform.
And the best part is, there are plenty of more races to run.
Discover more
stanpaske
Congratulations! Awesome!
abfab
And Dutch Windmills are so photographable! I love stories like this.
still_onthemark
“A seminal moment for Calamia came in April,…”
Really, 7 months ago? That’s very tantric. But testosterone by itself doesn’t…. Oh, sem-IN-al moment. Never mind!
Terry
So because someone says they are “nonbinary” they get attention and articles written about them. Zzz
Kangol2
There is the whole winning the category part but I guess you missed that. Reading is fundamental….
Terry
@Kangol2 Yeah it’s still a bit “so what”. Anyone can say they are nonbinary, and people win sports events hundreds of times a day across the world. Lol
abfab
HEY TERRY.
Go ahead and say you are binary.
Dick.
inbama
@Terry
That’s why there are no more males, females, homosexuals, lesbians, transvestites – anything grounded in a physical reality.
The Queer Theory/Gender Studies mash-up that we must all believe (or be forever harassed by creatures like abfab and dbmcvey) is that everyone is simply an identity and you are whatever you say you are. And if the identity you’d like doesn’t exist yet, just make one up!
Better yet, if you’ve invented a new identity, you are entitled to demand society refers to you by whatever pronouns you invent!!
Remember, biology, psychology, neurology and other ideas that used to be facts are really just ‘colonization” invented by whites to oppress the rest of the world.
Diplomat
They them, thank god it’s a fad on its slow and obnoxious way out.
Terry
I agree. It’s so obnoxious and so incredibly “look at me”. We get it, you want attention so you’re non binary, cool.
abfab
Hey TERRY and Diplomat. Obnoxious is a word you should refrain from using. You too, TERRY. Wth a name like yours we’re not sure if you’re a boy or a girl.
Cool is one thing you will never be. So hang it up. And find Dippo…..he needs a date.
still_onthemark
@Diplo: If you really think it’s a fad, just relax and enjoy the show. Ten years from now the NB fad is going to look pretty silly, if anyone remembers it at all.
inbama
Lesbian and autistic girls lining up for double mastectomies.
Gay boys put on chemically castrating puberty blockers.
Yes, enjoy the show!
Such fun!
Diplomat
Abflab, so you’re a Pisces like my older brother, that explains it all. For a Virgo, you’re the most exasperating bunch on earth. Now I’ve asked you both a million times, pleeze go play in traffic.
Terry
Abfab calm down, you’re going to give yourself a heart attack. Honestly, you should seek help with your anger – it’s all over this site. You haunt the comments with your constant aggression, like a cliche bitter queen from the 80s. It’s really sad buddy. We all just have different opinions – no need to get so angry constantly.
dbmcvey
Diplo believes in astrology. Yet one more thing on his kook checklist.
Kangol2
Congrats to them. Winning any category in the New York Marathon is an achievement!
abfab
Yes!
Diplomat
True is as true does! Good for the Dual.
ShaverC
Misleading title. Cal won the “non-binary” division. And was on testosterone. Hmmm.
abfab
Still working on that cheese sandwich Shave? Everything is misleading to you. You’re dumb.
dbmcvey
So, what are your rules for non-binary?
And why should we care?
Diplomat
There is no such thing as NB, just check between the legs. Dual Binary is more the features and name these kittens should be called as they highly relate to both male and female, and drop the losing war of they them insanity. At least then there would be a glint of accuracy involved.
dbmcvey
Good thing we don’t have to care what Diplo thinks.
LumpyPillows
It was very difficult to understand what the heck the story was. The confusion these crazy pronouns create is real. That said, I have no problem with Cal competing and wining in the non-binary category. This is exactly how we should accommodate these kinds of people.
dbmcvey
Good for them! Congratulations!
abfab
Yes!
abfab
A STERN AND SERIOUS MESSAGE FOR DIPLOMAT.
DO NOT SUGGEST OR JOKE ABOUT SUICIDE.
Vehicular suicide is the use of a motor vehicle to intentionally cause one’s own death. Please research the fatality statistics.
I love life too much to entertain your unspeakable taunts. You’ve done it several times before. Learn more about suicide prevention instead of promoting it.
I apologize to all of my community for having to post this.
(If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)
dbmcvey
Diplo is a terrible human being (assuming he is a human being).
Terry
Abfab, seriously, get help. You take online stuff so seriously, and are so so angry. Why?
abfab
You ask a lot of questions, Terry. I hope someday you find your answers.
inbama
@Terry
Deep down, even she probably knows the ideas she spews are a load of crap, but she does it anyway so she can appear young and au courant. She’s just an old slab of mutton desperately trying to pass herself off as a lamb.
LumpyPillows
This rings like a hypocritical gong to me.
Diplomat
Terry,
When you don’t speak loon, understanding loon activists can be a challenge.
Like Abflab for example: people don’t go play in traffic to commit suicide in the real world, but in abflab’s world, it seems to non statistically exist. Who goes to play in traffic w a car anyway? Silly boy girl it. Again I don’t speak loon so I don’t know all loon definitions. But they are certainly negative non entertainment and forever annoying, which is why they are losing all their loon rights one by one. Like forcing loon language they them in schools, loon acts like boys in girls showers etc. The loon list is actually quite long, all backed by big loon bucks. Thk god society is barfing back w a big “Loons um, no.”