Oregon female athletes refuse to stand on podium with transgender competitor – Washington Examiner
At a recent high jump championship in Oregon, two female athletes, Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard, made headlines after refusing to stand on the podium with a transgender competitor, Lia Rose, who finished fifth.The athletes placed third and fourth, respectively, and chose to face away from the podium as a statement regarding their stance on fairness in womenS sports. Anderson clarified that their decision wasn’t rooted in hate but aimed at highlighting concerns over integrity in female athletics.The incident garnered attention on social media, with women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines condemning the situation as an “utter betrayal” by sports officials who allow transgender athletes to compete against biological women. The discourse around this issue has intensified, notably with political figures like former President Donald Trump voicing their opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports.
Oregon female athletes refuse to stand on podium with transgender competitor
A pair of female athletes opted not to stand alongside a transgender competitor at an Oregon high jump championship, with footage of their refusal spotlighted on social media.
The two high school athletes, Alexa Anderson of Tigard High School and Reese Eckard of Sherwood High School, scored third and fourth place, respectively, in the high jumping competition, ahead of the transgender athlete’s fifth place finish this past weekend. The transgender athlete was representing Ida B. Wells High School. Footage shared online showed the two athletes not standing on the podium, and instead facing the opposite direction behind the other players on the podium.
The footage also showed Anderson and Eckard being directed to move away from behind the podium, after which they walked in the direction the person pointed toward.
“We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate,” Anderson told Fox News Digital. “We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right. In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls sports we must stand up for what is right.”
The transgender athlete reportedly competed as a male in 2023 and 2024 and now goes by the name Lia Rose.
Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines shared the footage on X, stating that “girls have had enough.” On Fox & Friends Weekend, she harshly condemned the “utter betrayal” many sports officials and governors have enacted against female athletes in allowing transgender athletes to compete against women.
The Washington Examiner has contacted Oregon State Activities Association for comment.
President Donald Trump targeted Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) last week over the state of California allowing a transgender athlete to compete in a state track event, and threatened to withhold federal funding from the state. In February, Trump signed an executive order that would block transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
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Trump also pointed out how Newsom has stated in his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, that it was “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to partake in women’s sports.
Last week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R-WV) asked local officials to keep separate scores for transgender athletes “so that the true winners can be awarded.”
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