Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, made headlines in late March when she chose to kneel during a USA fencing event as a form of protest. At the time, she felt that the action would drastically alter her life.
Fast forward almost four months, and amidst a Congressional hearing on the topic and a recent change to Team USA’s transgender participation policy, Turner expresses her willingness to kneel again “absolutely.”
This week, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) revised its policy, indicating an intention to comply with a directive from President Trump aimed at removing men from women’s sports.
Turner spoke to Fox News Digital, sharing that the situation has caused her numerous challenges and emotional turmoil. She feels immense relief following the changes and gratitude towards the support from women and girls who celebrate this victory.
“I have to thank Trump. I voted for him primarily because of this issue. It’s incredible to see his administration taking decisive action for women and girls,” she remarked. Despite her satisfaction with the order, she acknowledged that real change might take time.
A Maryland native and former Democrat, Turner says her decision to vote for Trump in 2024 was significant. She wonders where she and other former Democrats would be if they hadn’t chosen to support him.
Despite the positive changes, Turner and her supporters are seeking further actions from the USOPC. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (Icon), the group advocating for Turner, released a statement urging for mandatory gender screenings for all female athletes to fully implement Trump’s directive.
The statement emphasized that “the next crucial step is for the USOPC to establish sex screening protocols to ensure that women have a fair and safe opportunity in athletics.” They want the U.S. to lead on the issue of women’s fair treatment globally.
Turner also supports the idea of mandatory testing, specifically mentioning karyotyping, which analyzes chromosomes to verify sex. “We can’t just take documents at face value anymore,” she pointed out, expressing the need for reliable methods beyond driver’s licenses or birth certificates, which can be altered.
Turner’s protest last April sparked significant backlash against the USOPC. She was disqualified from a match and issued a black card for refusing to compete against a transgender opponent, which ignited a controversy that fueled a federal hearing on May 7 titled, “Unfair Play: Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports.”
In June, the US Fencing board voted to change its previous policy, particularly after criticism that followed Turner’s protest. This included amendments that addressed LGBTQ-friendly policies and the handling of the national anthem during events.
Subsequently, some fencing directors filed lawsuits against other board members, accusing them of lying to Congress during the May hearing. These plaintiffs have longstanding ties with Team USA and the sport.
Recently, USA Fencing has been among the first organizations to officially respond to the updated policies from the USOPC. Back in July 2025, the USOPC rolled out new Athlete Safety Guidelines mandated by an order from the President.
Reflecting on her journey, Turner recalls when she kneeled before her opponent, saying, “I have great respect for you, but I can’t fence you.” Now, she has a message for that opponent following the recent developments.
“I hope he realizes that what he did was unjust and unfair to women and girls. It’s not personal; I don’t harbor hatred for him. My anger is directed towards those who allowed this policy to continue.”
