Is a 10-Second Difference in 400m Possible? Controversy Over Transgender Athlete in US High School Track Meet

Controversy Over Transgender Athlete at U.S. High School Track Meet
Gallagher Sets Season Record in 200m, Finishes Over 7 Seconds Ahead of Fastest Female Competitor

A transgender athlete's overwhelming victory at a girls' high school track and field competition in Oregon, USA, has sparked controversy.

On the 21st (local time), the Daily Mail reported that at the Portland High School League Championship held on the 19th, Aiden Gallagher from McDaniel High School won both the girls' 200m and 400m events, causing controversy. Standing 180cm tall and weighing about 70kg, Gallagher crossed the finish line in the 400m race with a season-best time of 57.62 seconds. This was nearly 10 seconds ahead of Kinali Supantong, who finished second with a time of 1 minute 5.72 seconds. Gallagher also set a season record in the 200m event with a time of 25.76 seconds, winning by 1.5 seconds ahead of the second-place athlete.

A transgender athlete has sparked controversy by winning with overwhelming records at a girls' high school track and field competition held in Oregon, USA. On the 21st (local time), the Daily Mail reported that at the Portland High School League Championship held on the 19th, Aiden Gallagher from McDaniel High School won both the girls' 200m and 400m events, causing controversy. Daily Mail

Gallagher's race video quickly spread on social media, sparking debate among netizens because Gallagher is a transgender athlete. Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimming athlete, strongly criticized after watching the video, saying, "Another day, another male athlete dominating women's sports." In particular, she pointed out, "Gallagher set a season record and was more than 7 seconds ahead of the fastest female athlete. Does he have no shame? Do his parents feel no shame?" In response, Gallagher stated in his autobiography, "Even when thousands of people want me to stop and doubt my integrity, I can keep running."

Gallagher's game video quickly spread through social media, sparking controversy among netizens because Gallagher is a transgender athlete. Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimming athlete, strongly criticized the video after watching it, saying, "Another day, another male athlete dominating women's sports." X (formerly Twitter)

In a 2023 interview with a high school newspaper, Gallagher said he plans to undergo hormone replacement therapy, adding, "Right now, I am becoming more masculine, such as growing more facial hair, but I don't want that." He added, "With estrogen and other hormones, as well as vocal training, I will be much happier and more confident."

Meanwhile, amid ongoing international controversy over transgender athletes' participation in sports, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning individuals assigned male at birth from participating in women's sports. President Trump stated, "All schools receiving taxpayer funding will learn that allowing males to participate in female sports teams or invade (female) locker rooms will result in investigations for 'Title IX' violations and loss of federal funding," adding, "Attacks on female athletes will effectively end in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as nearly all U.S. colleges."