Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary and earned a chance to compete for the U.S. in this summer's Olympics in Paris, has drawn her share of accolades and praise - as well as controversy.
"Woke up an Olympian," Hiltz, 29, wrote on Instagram a day after running a 3:55:33 in the women's 1,500 meter final of the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday - a personal best and meet-record time.
"Yesterday afternoon in Eugene Oregon a childhood dream of mine came true. I'm not sure when this will fully sink in... All I know is today I'm waking up just so grateful for my people, overwhelmed by all the love and support, and filled with joy that I get to race people I deeply love and respect around a track for a living," Hiltz, who uses they/them pronouns, added.
Hiltz, whose sex was assigned as female at birth, said their win went beyond personal accomplishment.
"This is bigger than just me," Hiltz told NBC. "It's the last day of Pride Month, and I wanted to run this one for my community. All the LGBTQ folks, you guys brought me home that last 100. I could just feel the love and support."
Hiltz, who was assigned female at birth, does not face the same restrictions in female divisions as transgender women.
World Athletics, the governing body of track and field, approved new rules last year allowing athletes who were assigned female at birth to compete in women's divisions as long as they haven't received hormone therapy, the New York Times reported.
But some on social media lashed out at Hiltz for being able to represent the U.S. in Paris.
"And yet there you are - still a mediocre man stealing a woman's place on the Olympic team. Shame on you," Ted Smith wrote on X.
Hiltz responded.
"The 'wE cAn aLwAys TeLL' crowd at it again." they said. "Ted how bout you go touch some grass and then type into google 'what does nonbinary mean?'"
Another social media user said Hiltz shouldn't have the chance to compete.
"Nonbinary means you shouldn't compete against women," Cnut wrote on X.
But Jennifer Sey, the founder of XX-XY Athletics, defended Hiltz, referring to Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who won the NCAA Division I national championship and prompted a number of rules changes.
"Can we please not pretend this is the same as Lia Thomas attempting to compete in women's swimming at the Olympics? This is a woman competing in the women's category. No one is opposed to this," Sey posted on X.
