A transgender athlete, AB Hernandez, won gold medals in the girls’ high jump and triple jump events at the California high school track and field championships. Under a new rule change, Hernandez competed alongside other female athletes, despite criticism from some who oppose trans girls participating in women’s sports.
Hernandez finished first in both events, with her high jump mark of 5 feet, 7 inches, just above the co-winners Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle. In the triple jump, she shared the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher, trailing by only half a meter.
The California Interscholastic Federation announced the new policy in response to Hernandez’s success, allowing an additional student to compete and medal in events where Hernandez qualified. The change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.
Temperatures reached triple digits during the two-day championships, but despite criticism from some who called for Hernandez to be barred from competing, the atmosphere was relatively quiet. Critics wore pink bracelets and T-shirts reading “Save Girls’ Sports,” while an aircraft flew a banner above the stadium reading “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!”
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will investigate whether the federation and district violated federal sex discrimination law. California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity, but some critics argue that this policy puts girls at a competitive disadvantage.
Source: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/45413586/trans-athlete-ab-hernandez-wins-girls-calif-high-jump-title