Transgender cyclist Rachel McKinnon has blamed Donald Trump Jr for an increase in the amount of 'hateful messages' that she has received.

The president's son hit out at the athlete in October as he waded into the argument over whether the 37-year-old should partake in women's sport. 

Trump Jr said at the time: "You can never be woke enough! Sorry to all female athletes who spent their lives mastering their games."

McKinnon defended her sprint title at the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester which sparked Trump's provocation.

McKinnon said: "Soon after my win, Donald Trump Jr threw a Twitter tantrum about me. I've seen a huge uptick in the volume of hate mail I've received in the weeks since.

"I have four people who monitor my Instagram to delete hateful messages; they've been overwhelmed by the volume," she told the New York Times.

"Many want me to race against men. I have news for them, I'm not allowed. I'm legally female. My birth certificate, passport, driver's licence, U.S. permanent resident card, medical records and my racing licence all have an 'F' on them.

"The Union Cycliste Internationale, USACycling, Cycling Canada, the Canadian and United States governments and the state of South Carolina all agree that I'm female.

"The rules require me to race in the women's category. That's exactly where I belong. I am a woman, after all. I am female as well."