Trans Athlete Lia Rose Wins Oregon Girls High Jump, Sparking Controversy

Transgender athlete Lia Rose, formerly known as Zachary, won the girls' high jump at the Portland Interscholastic League Varsity Relays with a height of 4 feet, 8 inches, beating the second-place finisher by two inches. This victory comes nearly two years after Rose finished last in a junior varsity boys' competition, where he jumped 4 feet, 6 inches. The Oregon School Activities Association's policy allows students to compete in accordance with their asserted gender identity, which has sparked controversy and debate over fairness in women's sports. Just weeks before, another transgender athlete, Ada Gallagher, won both the girls' 200m and 400m races at a regional meet, raising further concerns among critics about the impact of such policies. The issue has drawn national attention, with political figures like Donald Trump advocating for policies that restrict biological males from competing in women's sports. Critics argue these policies undermine competitive fairness and highlight disparities in athletic performance between biological males and females.