In a controversial event at the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Track and Field State Championships, McDaniel High School sophomore Aayden Gallagher–whose assigned gender at birth was male but who competed in the girls’ team– was met with boos and transphobic insults after winning the 200-meter race. The incident, which took place at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, has once again lit the fire in the fierce debate over the participation of transgender athletes in high school sports.
Gallagher’s victory was captured in multiple social media videos, showing the crowd’s hostility as she crossed the finish line and later as she received her gold medal. The backlash quickly spread online, with some critics labeling her participation in the girls’ division as unfair. “Another proud moment for women’s sports!” wrote Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who had become a figurehead known for her opposition to trans athletes in women’s sports. “People are over this…& it’s about time.”
The far-right social media account Libs of TikTok, which frequently targets LGBTQ individuals, also condemned Gallagher’s win, posting, “Listen to the audience’s loud BOOs as they announce him as the winner! People are sick of this madness!”
Despite the uproar, Gallagher’s participation was in full compliance with OSAA’s policies. The OSAA allows students to compete in accordance with their consistently asserted gender identity, without requiring them to undergo transition-related medical care. Valerie Feder, director of media relations for Portland Public Schools, affirmed that the school followed OSAA’s rules and declined to comment further on the controversy.
A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that 69% of Americans believe trans athletes should only compete in teams corresponding with their sex assigned at birth. Moreover, half of U.S. states have enacted bans on transgender students participating in sports aligned with their gender identity, although some of these laws are temporarily blocked by injunctions.
Cyd Zeigler, founder of the LGBTQ sports site Outsports, condemned the negative responses to Gallagher’s victory. “For conservatives to attack her as a ‘cheater’ and saying she couldn’t make it as a boy so now she’s a girl, it’s just disgusting,” Zeigler stated. He emphasized that the criticism should be directed at the policymakers, not the young athletes. “Their real problem is with the rulemakers, not this kid.”
Gallagher’s experience highlights the emotional and psychological toll on transgender athletes amid such heated debates.
