Transgender Runner Touts USATF Victory: ‘LGBTQ Community Needed a Win’

Nikki Hiltz, a track runner who identifies as transgender nonbinary, won the women’s 1500-meter race at the 2023 USA Track & Field Championships on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Hiltz, 28, said their victory took on special significance after seeing a trans flag in the stands.

“It was awesome,” Hiltz said. “I think there’s so much hate right now, and specifically the bills being passed for trans youth. I just feel like the LGBTQ community needed a win, and there’s so many things that go through your mind in the race, and for whatever reason that was kind of in the back of my mind. I saw that trans flag right when I came out before the race.” 

Hiltz said the person holding the flag provided motivation for the race.

“They were the reason that I won,” Hiltz said. “They pulled it out of me.”

Hiltz won with a time of 4:03.10. Athing Mu finished second at 4:03.33.

Hiltz came out as transgender and nonbinary in 2021. They competed in women’s track in college for both Arkansas and Oregon and professionally since ’18. Since Hiltz came out, they have continued to compete on the women’s side, which includes becoming the first openly nonbinary athlete to win the Grand Blue Mile in April, breaking a USATF record in the process.

Many states, including Kansas, Indiana and South Carolina, along with the House of Representatives, have passed bills barring transgender youth from participating in youth sports, while other states have had those bills vetoed.