Trans athlete Lia Rose won a girls track event in Oregon, two years after placing last while competing in a boys race.
Lia Rose, a trans athlete, recently made headlines by winning a girls’ high jump event in Oregon.
This victory comes nearly two years after she finished last in a boys’ competition. Rose, born Zachary, has had a unique journey in sports, and her recent win has sparked discussions about gender identity in athletics.
Trans athlete wins girls varsity high jump event two years after finishing last against boys
At the Portland Interscholastic League Varsity event, Lia Rose jumped a height of 4 feet 8 inches.
This impressive leap allowed her to win the competition by a margin of two inches over her closest competitor, Addyson Skyles. Rose’s performance marked a personal best for her, showcasing her progress in the sport.
In contrast, when she competed in a boys’ event in May 2023, she finished in last place.
At that time, she only managed a jump of 4 feet 6 inches, significantly lower than the winner’s height. This stark difference highlights the challenges she faced while competing against boys.
Lia Rose transitioned from Zachary and began competing in the girls’ category in 2025. Before this change, she participated in various events, including track and field.
During her sophomore year, she even placed second in a junior varsity 3,000-meter race. However, competing against boys proved to be difficult for her, as seen in her last-place finish.
The decision to switch to the girls’ division has led to mixed reactions from the community.
Some people support her participation, while others express concerns about fairness in competition. The ongoing debate over transgender athletes in sports continues to be a hot topic.
School policies on trans athlete topic create ongoing debates.
The Portland Public Schools system has not confirmed whether Lia and Zachary are the same individual, citing privacy laws.
These regulations protect student information and make it difficult to verify details about athletes. This lack of transparency adds to the complexity of discussions surrounding transgender athletes in school sports.
Recent incidents in Oregon have also raised eyebrows. Just weeks before Lia’s victory, another transgender athlete, Aayden Gallagher, dominated a girls’ track competition.
Gallagher won both the 200-meter and 400-meter races, further fueling the conversation about the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The Oregon School Activities Association allows students to participate based on their gender identity.
This approach aims to create a fair environment for all athletes. However, it also raises questions about how to balance inclusivity with competitive fairness.
The future of sports for transgender athletes like Lia Rose remains uncertain. With ongoing debates and varying regulations, the landscape may continue to change.
Advocates for transgender rights argue that everyone deserves a chance to compete, while opponents stress the need for fairness in women’s sports
‘The OSAA endeavors to allow students to participate for the athletic or activity program of their consistently asserted gender identity while providing a fair and safe environment for all students.’
It continues: ‘Rules such as this one promotes harmony and fair competition among member schools by maintaining equality of eligibility and increase the number of students who will have an opportunity to participate in interscholastic activities.’
Social media reactions
One user said: Honestly it’s disgusting he couldn’t win against his own division so the transition began.
The second user added: This isn’t right. So unfair to the young girls and takes away from everything we’ve fought for.
The third user commented: So obviously wrong, how is this allowed. My heart bleeds and cries for all the girls by birth, who have put in the effort for years, and this happens!!!
The fourth user wrote: Shouldn’t be allowed as he lost as a boy only 2 years ago. This is so disrespectful to the born women who actually deserve it.
Another user said: How much longer is this lunacy going to continue?
So devastating for the girls that train so hard for these events just have to it dominated by someone born male. It’s unfair and needs to stop.
Someone added: I still do not understand why this culture 8s allowed in sports. It’s unfair to those biologically born in that category and to our common sense.