Seventeen-year-old AB Hernandez, a transgender high school athlete, grabbed gold in both the high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation state finals, setting off a firestorm of criticism nationwide.
Hernandez’s performance didn’t just make headlines- it lit up social media, sparked protests outside the stadium, and reignited a national debate about fairness in girls’ sports.
She arrived flanked by officials and her mother, Nereyda, as a chorus of demonstrators made their presence known just outside the fence, chanting and holding signs like “No dudes in girls spaces.” But none of that kept her from walking away with two golds and a silver, sharing the high jump title with Lelani Laruelle and Jillene Wetteland, and tying with Kira Gant Hatcher in the triple jump.
Online Outrage And Voices From The Stands
As Hernandez celebrated her wins, the online reaction exploded.
“They called it inclusion. What it really was? A boy taking a girl’s medal and everyone clapping like hostages,” one person wrote.
Another said simply, “This is a mess.”
Criticism poured in from across the country, with users calling out the CIF’s policy and the broader implications for women’s sports. One fan commented, “Men should not compete in women’s sports.”
While another added, “Boys don’t have any business in girls sport.”
Earlier in the day, Hernandez had taken second in the long jump with a 20′ 8¾” leap, just shy of the winning 21′ 0¼” from Loren Webster. Protesters outside didn’t hold back during that event either. One man shouted through a megaphone as Hernandez prepared to jump, forcing organizers to pause the meet and urge respect over the loudspeakers.
The CIF recently adopted a new rule allowing additional medal spots in events where transgender athletes qualify. Under this policy, Hernandez shared the podium in all three of her finals, a move the federation said aimed to ensure inclusivity without stripping opportunities from other athletes.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump criticized the CIF and California leadership, accusing them of “illegally allowing men to play in women’s sports” and threatening to withhold federal funding. Hernandez and her mother declined to comment on the political firestorm, though her mother later described the attacks as part of a “national campaign of cruelty.”
For many families and fans in the stands, the debate wasn’t about politics. It was personal. And for Hernandez, the controversy didn’t stop her from competing- or winning.
