Jake
Fedorowski
Photograph by
Lydia Chebbine
words by
Orion Rummler
Jake Fedorowski helped change the game for nonbinary runners. In 2022, they published a guidebook to show race directors how to create nonbinary divisions in marathons. Now, the world's top-tier marathons place nonbinary athletes in their own competitive category, allowing athletes to be themselves when they race. But Fedorowski says the work is not complete.
A lot has changed since Fedorowski asked the Eugene Marathon in Oregon to include a nonbinary division. Back in 2022, the race director was excited about the idea, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. Ultimately, the race didn’t change its policy that year and Fedorowski didn’t participate. But the story didn’t end there. They saw what could be possible and pushed for more.
“At the time, I was seeing the progress being made at the New York City marathon with their nonbinary division, which at the time was really one of the only ones,” they said in an interview. “That’s what sparked this idea … there are races out there doing this. There’s clearly a formula.”
They started talking with others advocating for nonbinary running divisions and writing down what they learned. They ended up with a guidebook that could kickstart conversations with race directors by answering their questions all in one place, like how to create score results that include nonbinary people, how to use gender-inclusive language and restrooms, and how to navigate awarding prize money.
Now, including nonbinary runners is the norm. This is a significant change from only a few years ago, when they were left to fend for themselves or just sit out of races that wouldn’t accept them as they are. The Eugene Marathon has a nonbinary division now, and so do the world's top-tier marathons: Boston, Tokyo, Chicago, London, Sydney, Berlin, and New York, which was the first. But many races still don’t allow nonbinary runners to win prize money or awards, which is a remaining hurdle. It’s also been a struggle to get some races to create elite nonbinary divisions, Fedorowski said. And the current political environment isn’t helping.
“There’s just a lot of scary headlines, there’s a lot of really sad news out there about the state of sport and the ability for anyone to participate at any level,” they said. “I feel like it’s constantly an attack on trans women, on the larger queer community, on people of color. Access to sport is still not where it needs to be.”
Amid escalating attacks on trans people in sports, nonbinary runners like Fedorowski have sparked change by demanding to be seen and celebrated for who they really are. That momentum needs to continue, they said.