Nikki Hiltz, a biological female who identifies as transgender non-binary, qualified for the U.S. Olympic team after winning the women’s 1,500-meter race at the trials last Sunday.
Hiltz set the meet record with their run, clocking in at 3 minutes and 55.53 seconds and breaking the mark set by Elle St. Pierre in 2021. Hiltz also won the 1,500-meter race at the 2023 U.S. Championships.
“I told myself, I’m not going to think about all the love and support (I have) until 100 meters to go,’” Hiltz said, via Runner’s World. “And then, at that moment, you can let it all fill you up and push you to the finish line.’ That’s exactly what I did, and I think that’s what brought me home.”
“I literally can’t believe it. I mean, this is bigger than me,” Hiltz said in an interview with NBC Sports. “It’s the last day of Pride month. I wanted to run this one for my community, and yeah, all the LGBTQ folks. You guys brought me home that last hundred [meters]. I could just feel the love and support.”
Hiltz raced collegiately at Oregon and Arkansas in the mid-2000 and was an All-American in 2018. Hiltz won a silver medal in the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and a gold in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Hiltz’s journey is interesting — even within the controversial world of what sports transgender athletes are able to complete.
Hiltz came out as transgender in 2021, but said her gender “fluctuates” daily.
“Hi I’m Nikki and I’m transgender. That means I don’t identify with the gender I was assigned at birth. The word I use currently to describe my gender is non-binary,” Hiltz said.
“The best way I can explain my gender is as fluid. Sometimes I wake up feeling like a powerful queen and other days I wake up feeling as if I’m just a guy being a dude, and other times I identify outside of the gender binary entirely.”
Riley Gaines, host of the OutKick podcast “Gaines for Girls” and one of the most influential pro-woman voices in the country, weighed-in on Hiltz’s inclusion on the United States Olympics team.
A female who identifies as trans earned a spot on the U.S. women's Olympic team.
I wonder why she didn't try out for the men's team. It's almost as if she understands she would never be able to compete or succeed at same level against the men.
Tellinghttps://t.co/M5Lj9G0aEi
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) July 2, 2024
The Paris Olympic games begin July 26, with track & field events slated to be held between Thursday, August 1 and Sunday, August 11.