Transgender Weightlifter Wins National Competition, Sparks Controversy: Vicki Piper Beats Second-Place Finisher by 37 Pounds
A transgender weightlifter, Vicki Piper, caused controversy by winning the Masters National Championships in Reno, Nevada, with a combined lift of 279 pounds, surpassing her closest competitor, Krista Dornbush, by 37 pounds.
Piper, 57, competed in both her age and weight groups among women and celebrated her victory on Instagram, stating "#transwomenarewomen" and expressing gratitude for the supportive event.
Conservatives have expressed their frustration over the fairness of men competing in women's sports.
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former GOP presidential candidate, criticized what he sees as a shift in progressive arguments, from supporting Title IX for separate women's sports to allowing men to compete against women.
Rep. Lauren Boebert also weighed in, advocating for men to be excluded from women's sports.
A user named ReallyRowdyRed shared an example of a woman, Vicki Piper, winning a weightlifting championship, leading to the question of why women continue to compete against men in such events.
USA Weightlifting requires trans athletes to provide proof of hormone therapy for at least two years to compete, while last year, a Minnesota court ruled that USA Powerlifting must allow trans athletes in women's divisions.
Rep. Harriet Hageman criticized Rep. Pramila Jayapal for her emotional response to a bill prohibiting men from competing against women in Olympic and amateur sports, calling it inappropriate and staged.