Exclusive | High-school track star explains why she refused to share podium with trans athlete: Women are facing sex-based discrimination again
High-school track star Alexa Anderson decided to step down — off the championship podium — for what she believes, when faced with the prospect of sharing the honor with a transgender competitor.“I knew that something needs to be done to bring attention to this issue and to let the people who are in charge know that us athletes are not okay with the position they put us in,” the 18-year-old told The Post.On Saturday, Anderson, a senior competing for Tigard High School, took third place in the Oregon State Athletic Association’s Girls High Jump Final while Lia Rose, a transgender athlete from Ida B.Wells High School took fifth.
Anderson jumped 5 feet 4.25 inches, compared to Rose’s 5 feet 1.65 inches.When the top eight jumpers took the podium, Anderson and fourth-place runner Reese Eckard, a senior from Sherwood High School, stepped down in unison and turned their backs in protest.“I was definitely stressed just with all those eyes on you, kind of looking at you wondering what you’re doing and why,” Anderson said.“But all female athletes, no matter if they are in elementary school, middle school or high school … I want them to have a fair and equal opportunity to compete.”Going into the meet, Anderson knew that she wouldn’t stand on the podium if Rose, who had competed in the boy’s division in 2023 and 2024, placed.
She and Eckart, who had been a “friendly competitor” for the past four years, had already made a pact to step down together.She claims several other girls who made the podium had also intended to join, but backed down in the moment: “It’s a very controversial topic, and I think some people are more inclined to express their concerns privately.”The crowd at Hayward Field reacted with silence, and an official confronted the pair.When they said they weren’t participating, the official told them to step aside and get out of the way of photos.Even though she and Eckart were the only ones to take a public stand, she say...