Caitlyn Jenner has regularly spoken out against transgender women participating in women's athletics. This past weekend, she vocalised her disapproval after a transgender teen finished in second place in a girls' race at the CIF-North Coast Section Meet of Champions in California over the weekend.
The transgender teen, Athena Ryan, came second in the varsity girls' 1600m run finals on Saturday 22 May. Fellow athlete, Adeline Johnson, displayed her disappointment when she gave a thumbs down during the medal ceremony. Ryan of Sonoma Academy will now advance to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships next week.
🏃Trans-identifying male, Athena Ryan (Jr) took 2nd today in the “Girls 1600m” at a CA State Championship qualifier meet in Dublin, CA.
Ryan beamed while 4th place senior, Adeline Johnson gave a thumb down after losing the chance to advance to the State Championships by 1 spot. pic.twitter.com/iY2InxvhJt— ICONS (@icons_women) May 21, 2023
Jenner spoke out about the teen’s finish saying,"As ‘somewhat’ of a track star myself, and a trans person, THIS IS WRONG!!! HELP ME PUSH BACK!" she replied on Twitter with a link to her political action committee, Fairness First.
"And FYA trans ppl you are being used by the radical gender ideology cult as political pawns. That’s all you are to them," Jenner added.
And FYA trans ppl you are being used by the radical gender ideology cult as political pawns. That’s all you are to them.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) May 22, 2023
Outkick's founder, Clay Travis, spoke out after the race as well, sharing the article written by one of his staffers, stating "a male competing as a woman" advanced to the California State Track & Field Championships, which the outlet further reported should have gone to "a deserving female,".
Ryan has appeared to be undeterred by the protests and controversy.
Ryan told MileSplit after the race: "I wasn’t expecting that. I dropped like 17 seconds on my season’s best in the past two weeks. After last weekend, I didn’t think I could run low 5s again. I was just coming here trying to break 5 – just glad I finished it out."
Ryan finished sixth in the 1,600-meter preliminary race and 21st in the girls 800-meter preliminaries.
MEDIOCRE MALE ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN FEMALE ATHLETICS IS NOT YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN! https://t.co/Eh4b5mTkUB
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) May 23, 2023
According to Fox News, the CIF has a "Gender Diverse Youth Sports Inclusivity Toolkit. One section outlines Gender Identity Participation. The CIF has had "Gender Identity Participation rules since 2013."
"All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity. Currently, most athletic programs are offered separately for boys and girls as outlined in CIF Bylaws 300.B. and C," the section reads.
"Athletes will participate in programs consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed. School personnel responsible for student eligibility will work collaboratively with the student-athlete to determine eligibility. Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with their gender identity, the eligibility is granted for the duration of the student’s participation and does not need to be renewed every sports season or school year."
