Schuyler Bailar appeared on the show to talk about gender identity and the fantastic support he gets from his team.

Paving the way for trans athletes, Schuyler Bailar has become the first openly transgender male to compete on a NCAA Division 1 men’s team. Speaking to the US chat show host Ellen he recalled one of his first major competitions as a trans man: “I got sixteenth place, which is obviously not first place but the whole team was on the side of the deck, jumping up, and screaming for me. I was ecstatic.”

In fact, the support and encouragement from his team has been invaluable. After his top surgery, Schuyler felt terrified about getting in the pool without a shirt. “I was sitting on the deck all covered up,” Schuyler explained. “And I told my coach ‘I’m really scared’, he said ‘Don’t worry about it,’ so I literally just took off my shirt and I jumped in the pool.”

Watch the full interview with Schuyler right here:

Words Holly-Anna Valavanis