There’s a certain level of respect that comes with standing by your beliefs or making sacrifices for your faith. Brendan Johnston, a former high school wrestler from Colorado, knows this well. In 2018, he made headlines by forfeiting two state tournament matches rather than compete against female opponents. His decision effectively ended his high school wrestling career, driven by his personal and religious convictions.
The topic of men competing against women in physical sports is more widely discussed today than ever. Many argue it’s unfair due to the biological differences between the sexes, making it an uneven playing field from the start.
In 2018, 18-year-old Brendan Johnston refused to wrestle against Jaslynn Gallegos from Skyview High in the first round of a state tournament. Brendan, a senior at the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, also chose not to compete against Angel Rios from Valley High in his third-round consolation match.
In an interview with KDVR, Brendan Johnston, a Christian, explained his decision: “It’s so physical, physically close. I don’t think that’s really appropriate with a young lady. It’s also very aggressive, and I’m not really comfortable with that.”
He added, “There’s something I find problematic about wrestling a girl, and part of that stems from my faith and beliefs. Another part comes from how I was raised to treat women, as well as my personal experiences.”
Brendan emphasized, “I’m not saying they’re not equal. I’m saying they’re women, and that’s different from being men. I believe men and women are made differently, but I also believe women have equal value to men. Seeing men and women as different doesn’t contradict the idea of equality.” Due to Brendan’s decision to forfeit the matches, he finished in sixth place, while Angel Rios and Jaslynn Gallegos placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Jaslynn expressed disappointment over Brendan’s choice not to compete against her. Speaking to the Washington Post at the time, she said, “Throughout my wrestling career, I’ve been trying to prove that I’m just a wrestler, not defined by my gender. So the fact that my gender still holds me back is frustrating, but I respect his decision. It’s fine. “My whole perspective is that I’m not a ‘girl wrestler’—I’m just a wrestler. It doesn’t hurt my feelings, but I do take it to heart.”
Learn more about Brendan’s bold decision here:
What are your thoughts on Brendan’s decision to decline wrestling a female opponent? Share your opinions in the comments below!