During the women’s high jump medal ceremony, a standout athlete from Oregon, Alexa Anderson, gained attention for her decision not to share the podium with transgender competitors. She expressed that she asked one athlete to stay away from the ceremony if she wasn’t directly involved.
Anderson, a student at Tigard High School, garnered significant media coverage after her protest at the Oregon Athletics Association’s high jump finale on May 31 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. She finished in third place, while fellow competitor Reese Eckard from Sherwood High School obtained fourth. They both positioned themselves behind the podium during the ceremony, choosing not to stand next to Leah Rose, a transgender student from Ida B. Wells High School, who ended up in fifth place.
According to Anderson, they were instructed to move to a different area where they would be out of the photographer’s line of sight. “They asked us to leave the medal stands, so when they took the photos we weren’t in at all,” she explained.
In a synchronized action, both Anderson and Eckard stepped down from their platforms, turning away from the podium as the names of the top finishers were read aloud. This situation frustrated them, as they felt marginalized during the ceremony.
Leah Rose cleared a height of 5 feet and 1.65 inches in the event, while Eckard reached 5 feet 3 inches and Anderson jumped 5 feet 4.25 inches. Both athletes noted that competing against transgender opponents, who had participated in boys’ divisions in previous years, was unjust.
“It’s unfair because biological men competing against women—it’s taking opportunities and space away from hardworking female athletes,” Anderson remarked, referring to the potential impact on lower-ranked competitors.
This incident marked Anderson’s first public expression of discontent regarding transgender athletes in sports, although she had supported other women who have voiced similar concerns in the past. “This is the first public stand I’ve taken, but I’ve always backed other girls on this issue,” she stated.
In a related event, transgender athlete Veronica Garcia recently claimed victory in the state Class 2A 400-meter dash in Washington, winning by over a second and addressing her critics following the race. “I’m just focused on performing, but I won’t let negativity hold me back,” she said, expressing her determination despite the backlash.
Garcia was noted for being the first transgender athlete to win a state title in Washington last year, and her success continues to stir debate about inclusion in sports.
“It’s disappointing that they have nothing better to do,” she commented on critics, suggesting that their focus was misplaced.
With post wire
