A 16-year-old transgender athlete, AB Hernandez, has stirred national debate by qualifying for the finals of several events at the California State Track & Field Championships, despite heavy criticism and political backlash, including from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Hernandez, who identifies as female, is competing in the girls’ long jump and high jump events. The championships are taking place in Clovis, a city just outside Fresno, California.
While many praised Hernandez’s athletic ability, her participation has also drawn controversy. Protesters gathered outside the venue on Friday with signs that read “Save girls sports,” while a plane flew overhead displaying a banner that said, “No boys in girls sports!”
Much of the criticism came after the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) allowed Hernandez to compete under the existing rules, which permit athletes to compete according to their gender identity. In response to rising pressure, CIF made rule changes mid-week to address concerns from those who felt the playing field was unfair.
One new rule ensures that if a biological female athlete misses a podium spot because of a transgender competitor, she will still receive a medal. The CIF clarified that these changes apply only to field events like the high jump and long jump.
The debate escalated after Trump posted on social media, without mentioning Hernandez’s name, calling the situation “totally demeaning to women and girls.” He warned that California could lose federal funding if it continued to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ events.
“This is not fair,” Trump wrote, adding that the Biden-era policies should be reversed.
Following Trump’s remarks, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would investigate whether California’s actions violated Title IX, a federal law that protects against sex-based discrimination in education and sports.
Local leaders also weighed in. The mayor of Clovis, Diane Pearce, urged CIF to bar Hernandez from competing altogether, saying the recent rule changes were not enough.
Despite the backlash, Hernandez has continued to compete and was the top qualifier in both her events ahead of Saturday’s finals.
The case has sparked fresh debate about the balance between inclusion and fairness in school sports—a topic that continues to divide opinion across the U.S.
