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Marshi Smith vs. transgender people

Marshi Smith is an American former college athlete and anti-transgender activist. Smith is an opponent of trans athletes competing in sex-segregated competitive sports. Smith is co-founder of Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS). 

Background

Marshi Loel Smith was born on June 6, 1984 in Chicago to Michael and Alena Smith and grew up in Virginia. Smith has three siblings. Smith attended University of Arizona in Tucson and was a swimmer there. In 2005, Smith won the NCAA Division I 100-yard backstroke event. Smith was inducted into the University of Arizona’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Affter college, Smith was a medical device sales representative before becoming a stay-at-home parent to two children.

Anti-trans activism

Smith and Kim Jones co-founded Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), seeking rule changes in trans athlete inclusion policies at governing bodies.

ICONS initiated several lawsuits against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and quickly grew into a million-dollar nonprofit:

  • 2022: $103,486
  • 2023: $453,803
  • 2024: $1,060,926

Smith was appointed chair of the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s Protect Women’s Sports Task Force.

References

Christovich, Amanda (March 2, 2025). One Group Is Funding the NCAA Transgender Ban Lawsuits. Front Office Sports https://frontofficesports.com/ncaa-transgender-ban-lawsuits-group-icons/

Anti-trans coverage

Ricgardson, Valerie (June 16, 2024). Girls left in dust as male-born transgender athletes take state track titles in five states. Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jun/16/transgender-athletes-leave-girls-dust-winning-trac/

Selected writing by Smith

Jones, Kim; Smith, Marshi (July 18, 2022). Lia Thomas Nominated for NCAA ‘Woman’ of the Year. Independent Women https://www.independentwomen.com/2022/07/18/lia-thomas-nominated-for-ncaa-woman-of-the-year/

Media

Fox News with and Marshi Smith (February 5, 2026). Former NCAA swimmer Marshi Smith reacts to Trump admin cracking down on UNR for alleged Title IX violations. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388596588112

Resources

Independent Council on Women’s Sports (iconswomen.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

X/Twitter (kimjonesicons)

Pinterest (pinterest.com)

Independent Women (independentwomen.com)

University of Arizona Athletics (arizonawildcats.com)