Two high school athletes in Oregon turned their backs and refused to take the podium alongside a trans-identifying competitor during a state championship event, sparking nationwide conversation around fairness in women’s sports.

According to the Christian Post, Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard declined to join trans-identifying athlete Lia Rose on the winners' podium at the Oregon high school track and field state championships, a protest that reinvigorated national debate over inclusion and competition policies.

The protest took place during the girls’ high jump results ceremony at the 6A Oregon high school track finals held on a Saturday, though the specific date has not been confirmed. Reese Eckard, a senior at Sherwood High School, placed fourth in the event, while Alexa Anderson, a senior from Tigard High School, placed third.

The two stood beside the podium rather than on it, turning their backs as Lia Rose, representing Ida B. Wells High School, accepted a fifth-place title. Rose, who was born male and previously competed under the name Zachary Rose, tied for fifth place in the girls’ high jump event.

Officials at the event gestured for Anderson and Eckard to move, prompting them to step off to the side. The gesture and subsequent move were captured on video and widely shared online by women’s sports advocates and media outlets.

Protest Draws Praise and Online Attention

Prominent activist Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and well-known women’s sports advocate, praised the girls publicly on social media. “Girls have had enough,” Gaines wrote in a post featuring footage of the protest. She framed the act as a brave stand for fairness in girls’ athletics.

Ahead of this season, Lia Rose had primarily participated in junior varsity boys' competitions throughout 2023 and 2024. Her entry into the girls’ high jump finals has drawn scrutiny from some who argue that biological differences give trans-identifying athletes competitive advantages.

In response to the protest, Anderson later said, “We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate. We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right.” She added that protecting fairness in women’s sports requires standing up for what is seen as equitable treatment.

Debate Tied to Executive Action and Federal Policy

The issue gained new momentum earlier this year when President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order, announced in February, was signed in the presence of athletes and coaches advocating for single-sex sports participation based on biological sex.

In a related policy statement posted on Truth Social just days before the Oregon championship, Trump warned California and other states that federal funding may be withheld if they fail to adhere to the executive order. He described the advantages held by trans-identifying athletes as “totally demeaning to women and girls.”

Observers believe these statements may have been aimed at developments such as the recent wins by AB Hernandez, another trans-identifying athlete, who secured titles in the girls’ long jump and triple jump in California’s CIF Southern Section Masters Meet.

Other Athletes Cite Lasting Physical Consequences

Discussions around safety have also surfaced in cases like that of Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player featured in a recent video by clothing brand XX-XY Athletics. The brand advocates for protecting what it calls “biological female” spaces in sports.

In the video, McNabb recounted suffering a severe injury in 2022 after being struck in the head by a ball during a match involving a trans-identifying male athlete. She said the incident led to lifelong consequences, including partial paralysis and lasting neurological damage.

“Those were all taken away from me by a man,” McNabb said, referring to opportunities she feels were lost because of her injuries. The video served as a call to major sponsors, such as Nike, to publicly address the issue and defend fairness in women’s sports.

Corporate Response and Media Investigations

The release of the XX-XY Athletics video followed a New York Times article focusing on Blaire Fleming, a trans-identifying volleyball player at San Jose State University. The coverage highlighted concerns raised by opposing teams, including decisions by some universities to forfeit matches rather than compete against Fleming’s team.

The article also mentioned a study allegedly backed by Nike to monitor hormone therapy and surgery among transgender-identifying youth athletes over five years. However, a spokesperson from Nike later clarified that the research had not been implemented and was no longer progressing.

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), which governs high school athletics in the state, did not comment on the protest during the state championships. As of press time, no immediate policy adjustments have been announced in response to the athletes’ podium decision.