California trans athlete podium controversy ignites outrage among politicians, activists
A girls’ track and field meet in California became the subject of national controversy for the second week in a row after a transgender athlete bested the triple jump event. What happened on the medal podium afterwards became the subject of ridicule.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez placed first in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Division finals on Saturday. According to the rule that came into force last year and stipulates that any female athlete who finishes behind a transgender athlete will be given a higher ranking, the girl who would finish first in the race did the same.
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Trans athlete AB Hernandez shares first place on the podium with a female athlete at the CIF Southern Division final on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
Photos and videos of the three podium ceremonies (one of which showed the top female finisher sharing the top spot of the podium with Hernandez) went viral on social media, including Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. and sparked backlash against the CIF among politicians, including Rep. Nancy Mace, R-N.C. and activists like Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey.
CIF passed a law Pilot program for state finals Last May, a top honor was given to every female athlete who finished behind a transgender athlete; This led to the girls sharing the podium places with Hernandez for the championship. The program also enabled all female athletes who were one place behind to compete for the championship by gaining the right to participate in the state finals in events that included transgender competitors.
Then, in a recent letter dated May 16 to parents, CIF announced that the program would be reintroduced starting with Saturday’s events.
“CIF values all of our student-athletes, and we will continue to pursue our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while competing within California laws and educational guidelines,” he wrote in the letter.
The CIF initially enacted the program last May, after the President took action after Hernandez advanced to the state final, allowing any female athlete who ranks one place below the qualifiers in events that included a transgender competitor to advance to the state final. Donald Trump He will speak out against California and Gov. Gavin Newsom, threatening loss of federal funding if the executive order to protect girls and women’s sports is not followed.
Trump’s Justice Department later filed a request. Title IX lawsuit against state educational institutions after Hernandez won two state championships and finished second in another state in July of last year.
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The parent of a female athlete at Saturday’s meet told Fox News Digital that a coach informed them that the same pilot program would be implemented for the remainder of the post-state season, starting with Saturday’s divisional finale.
Fox News Digital has reached out to CIF for a response.
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AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, jumps during practice ahead of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Division Regional Championship Finals on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
Controversy over Hernandez and Jurupa Valley’s track and field season reignited last Saturday when “Save Girls Sports” protesters held a rally during the regional qualifying round. A source from Newsom’s office released a statement about the rally to Fox News Digital in the days before the meeting.
“The governor said discussions on this issue should be guided by justice, dignity and respect. He rejects the cynical attempt by the right wing to weaponize this debate as an excuse to denigrate individual children. The governor’s position is simple: stand up for all children and stand up to bullies,” the statement said.
“California is one of 22 states with laws requiring students to be allowed to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.”
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Now a Southern Division champion again, Hernandez, along with all the other winners, will advance to the CIF prelims next Saturday to face the state’s top female jumpers and have a chance to return to the state finals.
The two-day state finals will begin May 29 in Clovis, California.
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