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“Unfair”: Teen Defies Results, Takes First-Place Podium Spot After Loss To Trans Athlete
A viral moment at a California track meet has added fuel to an already heated national debate after Reese Hogan, a high school athlete from Crean Lutheran High School, stood proudly on the first-place podium despite finishing second behind a transgender competitor.
Hogan was competing at the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday when she was bested in the triple jump by AB Hernandez, a biologically male athlete who identifies as female.
Highlights
- Reese Hogan stood on the first-place podium after finishing second to transgender athlete AB Hernandez at a California track meet.
- Social media erupted with mixed reactions, with some praising Hogan and others defending Hernandez’s right to compete.
- The incident intensified national debate amid recent legislation efforts on the topic.
In a controversial move that for many symbolized the turmoil surrounding trangender participation in women’s sports, Hogan returned to the podium after the medal ceremony, stepping onto the top spot left vacant once Hernandez exited.
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A female athlete returned to stand on the first-place podium after finishing second to a transgender high school competitor
Image credits: Capital & Main / YouTube
Hernandez won the triple jump with a distance of 41 feet and 4 inches—more than four feet ahead of Hogan.
Hernandez also claimed victory in the long jump competition and placed seventh in the high jump, securing qualification for the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet, which will take place on May 24.
Image credits: Capital & Main / YouTube
The result triggered a wave of backlash online, especially from women’s sports advocacy groups and conservative outlets that didn’t mince words to make their thoughts known.
“This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend,” wrote Jennifer Sey, founder of the advocacy group XX-XY, on social media. “He won the triple jump by 8ft. He’s really crushing it!”
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male,” wrote Colin Rugg, co-owner of conservative site Trending Politics.
Image credits: Capital & Main / YouTube
Netizen opinions were more nuanced but still leaned towards being critical of Hernandez’ participation in the women’s competition.
“Second place is the real champion!” one user wrote. “Good on her! This nonsense has to stop,” another replied.
“The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it,” one sign read.
“I’m sick of this. All the fight for women’s rights is now gone by the same people who fought for women’s rights in the first place.”
The issue has divided the public, with each side defending its own interpretation of fairness and equality in women’s sports
Image credits: Jennifer Sey
Netizen opinions towards the idea of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports have soured following a string of testimonies of biologically female athletes being injured or having their achievements allegedly diminished by transgender competitors rapidly outpacing them.
Image credits: LJKerch
Image credits: thepoobah
For instance, in September 2022, a 17-year-old’s dream of becoming a college athlete was shattered in a second after she was hit in the head by a high-speed volleyball spiked by a transgender player.
Image credits: CollinRugg / X
The impact rattled her brain, causing an instant knockout that was made even worse as she hit the floor. Payton McNabb, from Murphy, North Carolina, was unconscious for 30 seconds and woke up to her future as a player in pieces.
Image credits: boolou2020
Due to the delicate nature of the subject matter, McNabb’s family was afraid to speak up out of fear of being subjected to harassment, cancellations, and accusations of transphobia.
“At the time, we weren’t allowed to speak up. We couldn’t say, ‘No, she’s not playing against a boy, it’s dangerous.’” Pamela McNabb, her mother, said at the time.
Image credits: Riley_Gaines_ / X
McNabb’s testimony was instrumental in North Carolina passing a ban on transgender athletes competing on middle, high school, and college level women’s sports teams.
Image credits: Riley_Gaines_ / X
The ban motivated a group of more than 400 current and former Olympic athletes to sign a letter urging the National College Athletics Association (NCAA) to not issue a similar ban.
In the letter, signatories called on people to be on the “right side of history,” believing the prohibition would be against the principle of sports being “for all.”
Hernandez called the outrage “ridiculous,” arguing that being transgender offers no inherent advantages in sports
When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause.
THIS is the way.
Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!! https://t.co/KiEm2yV2YYpic.twitter.com/hqGdikES29
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 18, 2025
“The mere fact that men compete against women is absurd,” one reader argued. “Trans people should have their own league, and regular, normal people can have their traditional men’s and women’s sports.”
Image credits: rejserin
Image credits: KevinjDunbar666
Meanwhile, some defended Hernandez’ right to compete. “She followed all the rules,” one user argued. “If people don’t like it, the problem is with the rules, not with her.”
“Trans girls are girls,” another followed. “Hernandez won fair and square.”
Image credits: Capital & Main / YouTube
For Hernandez, who has been defeated by biologically female athletes in the past, the claim of having an unfair advantage is “ridiculous” and “idiotic.”
Image credits: Capital & Main / YouTube
“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” the athlete said.
“All I thought was, ‘I don’t think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash. She can’t be beat because she’s biologically male.’ Now you have no proof that I can’t be beat.”
Hernandez’ victory comes at a time of heightened national attention on the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. In March, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would ban their inclusion at federally funded schools and institutions.
“Sad.” Netizens took to social media to reflect on the incident and its consequences
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Jules 6 months ago (edited)
As there seem to be more trans athletes these days why not create a category for trans competitors? It is wrong for a male born athlete to compete with females as the have a clear advantage. That means any competition is not fair
Petra Peitsch 6 months ago
Indeed, trans woman are not woman, when it comes about physically build up. They are clearly have an advantage. I don't really freaking care, how much you are downvoting me, but man-to-woman, and also woman-to-man trans people should never be let go in any kind of physical competition with genetically borned women and men. I'm all pro for them to have the rights and recognition what one can expect in a normal society. That's FAIR. What is NOT FAIR, is obvious from the post above.
Load More Replies...
Franco 6 months ago
No males in women’s sports. No males in women’s spaces. It’s not complicated.
Earonn - 6 months ago
No idiots in this comments section!!! And yet here you are.
Load More Replies...
Mel in Georgia 6 months ago
It was a tremendous leap forward when trans folks began to be recognized as people who could claim a gender and live it according to how they identify. It was a blow when a minute few trans women wanted to pursue sports with an advantage few non-trans women could match. Imagine Olympic champion Caitlyn Jenner transitioning earlier and competing in women's swimming. I hate that this has become something the right obsesses over because it aims to take away rights from trans folks who have nothing to do with this specific issue. No trans women in women's sports. It's a small sacrifice to make in order to retain the forward motion in trans rights.
Rebecka Ortiz 6 months ago
No its not, you're putting real women in danger because trans women still have the bone structure of a man as well as the muscle structure of a man (considerably more than the average woman) they minimize their muscle with d***s and still have a whole entire layer more than biological women do so no you can't take away a womens rights to gain your own. Make your own category where women still keep their rights in tact also if you're so concerned over equal rights you should understand that much.
Load More Replies... Jules 6 months ago (edited)
As there seem to be more trans athletes these days why not create a category for trans competitors? It is wrong for a male born athlete to compete with females as the have a clear advantage. That means any competition is not fair
Petra Peitsch 6 months ago
Indeed, trans woman are not woman, when it comes about physically build up. They are clearly have an advantage. I don't really freaking care, how much you are downvoting me, but man-to-woman, and also woman-to-man trans people should never be let go in any kind of physical competition with genetically borned women and men. I'm all pro for them to have the rights and recognition what one can expect in a normal society. That's FAIR. What is NOT FAIR, is obvious from the post above.
Load More Replies... Franco 6 months ago
No males in women’s sports. No males in women’s spaces. It’s not complicated.
Earonn - 6 months ago
No idiots in this comments section!!! And yet here you are.
Load More Replies... Mel in Georgia 6 months ago
It was a tremendous leap forward when trans folks began to be recognized as people who could claim a gender and live it according to how they identify. It was a blow when a minute few trans women wanted to pursue sports with an advantage few non-trans women could match. Imagine Olympic champion Caitlyn Jenner transitioning earlier and competing in women's swimming. I hate that this has become something the right obsesses over because it aims to take away rights from trans folks who have nothing to do with this specific issue. No trans women in women's sports. It's a small sacrifice to make in order to retain the forward motion in trans rights.
Rebecka Ortiz 6 months ago
No its not, you're putting real women in danger because trans women still have the bone structure of a man as well as the muscle structure of a man (considerably more than the average woman) they minimize their muscle with d***s and still have a whole entire layer more than biological women do so no you can't take away a womens rights to gain your own. Make your own category where women still keep their rights in tact also if you're so concerned over equal rights you should understand that much.
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