Trans-identifying High School Athlete Complains about Lack of ‘Sportsmanship’ after Winning Washington State Championship
A transgender-identifying high school athlete in Washington, who last month won the state championship for the girls 400-meter race, complained about the lack of “sportsmanship” that was shown by fellow competitors following the event.
Veronica Garcia, a biological male competing in the girl’s event, finished the race one whole second ahead of the second-place finisher. However, in an interview following the event, Garcia shared feelings of being unsupported and unacknowledged by other runners after the win.
“I guess maybe I expected sportsmanship because I was cheering the rest of them on when they were called. So I guess I expected to get that reciprocated,” Garcia told the Spokesman-Review. “But I didn’t get that.”
“I’m just a teenager. I wish people would remember that,” Garcia added.
In Washington state, high school athletes are permitted to compete in the category that aligns with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. This policy does not require athletes to undergo any form of hormone therapy to be eligible; they simply need to identify as the opposite sex to compete accordingly.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has supported this approach that has allowed biological males to take opportunities away from girls. According to the WIAA handbook, “The WIAA encourages participation for all students regardless of their gender identity or expression.”
“Further, most local, state and federal rules and regulations require schools to provide transgender and other gender-diverse student-athletes with equal opportunities to participate in athletics. The purpose of this policy is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender-diverse student-athletes. Additionally, this policy encourages a culture in which student-athletes can compete in a safe and supportive environment, free of discrimination,” the handbook states.
Garcia’s comments come amid growing public resentment for biological boys competing (and winning) in girls events. Last month Aayden Gallagher, a biological boy who identifies as a girl, was booed after winning the Oregon Girls’ 200-meter state championship.
