Teen trans athlete at center of rightwing attacks wins track events in California
A teenage transgender athlete in California, who has been at the center of widespread political attacks by rightwing pundits and the Trump administration, won in two track events over the weekend. The 16-year-old athlete, AB Hernandez, tied for first place alongside two other athletes in the high jump, and tied for first place in the triple jump.
This comes as the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal funding from California for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports.
The meet took place days after the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in the state, changed its rules. Now, if a transgender athlete places in a girls' event, the athlete who finishes just behind will also receive the same place and medal.
Despite protests at the meet, the athletes expressed joy during the meet, multiple outlets reported.
'Sharing the podium was nothing but an honor,' another high school athlete said to the San Francisco Chronicle. 'Although the publicity she's been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she's a superstar. She's a rock star. She's representing who she is.'
Hernandez finished the high jump with a mark of 5ft 7in (1.7 meters), the Associated Press reported, with no failed attempts. The two co-winners also cleared that height after each logged a failed attempt. The three shared the first-place win, smiling as they stepped together onto the podium.
Hernandez received first place in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with an athlete who trailed by just more than a half-meter, the AP said. Earlier in the afternoon, Hernandez placed second in the long jump.
Hernandez and her participation in the meet brought national attention and attacks by the Trump administration. She has become the target of a national, rightwing campaign to ban trans athletes from youth sports. The justice department said it would investigate the California Interscholastic Federation and the school district to determine whether they violated federal sex-discrimination law.
The federation's rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls' participation in high school sports. They announced the change after Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California unless it bars trans athletes from competing on girls' teams. But the federation said it decided on the change before the Trump threats.
Hernandez's participation in the sport is allowed by a 2013 state law, stating that students can compete in the category reflecting their gender identity.
Her talent led some to fear that she would sweep the competition. At least 24 states have laws on the books barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain women's or girls' sports competitions, the AP reported. However, research has indicated that trans athletes do not outperform other athletes.
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