A high school track athlete who transitioned from male to female has become a focal point of controversy after winning a competition held in California.
According to the Associated Press and The New York Times on the 1st, transgender AB Hernandez, a junior at Hoorupa Valley High School in Southern California, won first place in the women's high jump and triple jump and second place in the long jump at a state high school track competition held near Fresno in mid-Southern California on the 31st of last month.
It is not the first time a transgender athlete has won in the United States. However, Hernandez's victory has sparked controversy after President Donald Trump criticized his participation, and the federal government has joined in.
California regulations, established in a state law enacted in 2013, allow students to compete in the institutional sector corresponding to their gender identity.
However, as the president criticized the participation of athletes who transitioned from male to female in women's competitions, the sponsoring organization, the California Interscholastic Federation, announced new regulations earlier this week.
Hernandez was allowed to compete alongside one other participant and receive medals. The federation also acknowledged the rankings of other competitors in the case that Hernandez did not participate.
As a result, Hernandez recorded first place in the high jump and triple jump, but became a co-champion at the awards ceremony. In the high jump, he cleared 5 feet 7 inches (about 170 cm) without any failures. The second place participant cleared the same height as Hernandez but recorded one failure.
However, on the top of the podium, Hernandez and the two other participants stood together. The federation acknowledged Hernandez's record but also recognized the next-ranked participants as co-champions.
In the triple jump, Hernandez technically achieved sole victory but was also listed as a co-champion alongside the second place athlete during the awards ceremony.
President Trump warned before the competition that if California did not ban transgender students from participating, it would cut federal funding.
The U.S. Department of Justice also vowed to investigate whether the federation and the school district to which Hernandez belongs violated federal laws prohibiting gender discrimination. The federation stated, "We respect all student athletes and will continue to uphold state laws that encompass our mission to provide students with a sense of belonging, solidarity, and competitive opportunities."