Oregon — A tense moment unfolded at the Oregon State High School Track and Field Championships on May 31, 2025, when two top finishers in the girls’ high jump event refused to stand on the podium alongside a transgender athlete.
Sherwood High School’s Reese Eckard and Tigard High School’s Alexa Anderson, who finished second and third respectively, stepped down and turned away as the gold medalist— a transgender athlete from Ida B. Wells High School—took her place atop the podium. A video of the protest shared on social media went viral, igniting national debate over gender identity and fairness in youth sports.
The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) currently permits student-athletes to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. According to its Gender Identity Participation policy, the organization aims to “provide fair and equitable competition” while promoting “the health and safety of all participants.”
But critics argue that this policy undermines the intent of Title IX protections for female athletes. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) recently filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that Oregon’s athletic policies—by allowing transgender girls to compete in female divisions—violate the rights of biological girls. The AFPI contends that “girls are losing opportunities, scholarships, and their rightful place on the podium,” and is calling for a federal civil rights investigation.
The protest by Eckard and Anderson was highlighted in a Fox News report, where the athletes reportedly made the decision independently and did not speak to the media directly. Their quiet dissent has sparked a wider conversation about how best to balance inclusivity with fairness in competitive high school athletics.
As public scrutiny mounts, the OSAA and educational leaders may be forced to revisit the framework of gender participation in school sports—an issue that shows no signs of quieting down.
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