California Trans Battle: Controversial HS Athletes Don’t Laugh Criticism
newYou can listen to Fox’s news articles!
Transgender athletics athlete AB Hernandez is California He didn’t laugh at the backlash on Saturday with the state championship earlier this month.
Jurupa Valley High School Athlete was at the heart of the controversy surrounding the participation of trans athletes in California High School’s track and field. It drew condemnation from the president Donald Trump Dueling lawsuits between the Department of Justice and the state.
For sports coverage on foxnews.com, click here
First-place winner Ab Hernandez, left, Jillene Wetteland shares a light moment before the medal ceremony in the high jump at the California High School Athletics Championships held in Clovis, California on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Inter-California Governance Federation has made changes to allow biological females to receive the first place medal if their position is replaced by a transgender athlete.
“It’s definitely crazy. I get a lot of disliked comments, but I don’t care,” Hernandez said. He told KCRA-TV With a laugh. “I’m a 16-year-old girl with a crazy attitude. Do you think I’m going to care?”
According to the station, Hernandez tried to avoid the spotlight before it was revealed that the athlete had identified him as transgender. Hernandez finished third in the 2024 Women’s Triple Jump State Finals, but won the event in 2025 as a junior. Hernandez also won this year’s women’s high jump.
Center Ab Hernandez will flash the autograph as he shares his first place spot on the podium with Lelani Laluel at the California High School Athletics Championships on the left, at the California High School Athletics Championships on the left, at the California High School Athletics Championships in Clovis, California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Tracking the sporting controversy at Transathlete High School last year shakes the country
Hernandez spurred a “strange” protest, vowed to take the page from critics and not to retreat from the competition.
“I did what I wanted to do,” Hernandez told the station. “I was in favor of everything, so that’s what I was really trying to do. All of this backlash, I was just the best performance and that’s all I cared about.”
It is unclear whether new rules will be introduced in California next season.
Ab Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, will be taking medals and photographs at the California High School Athletics Championships held in Clovis, California on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Trump signed an executive order “No male sports for women’s sports” in February, banning schools from allowing men to compete in girls and women’s sports. California was one of five states in which transgender athletes won medals in the championships between 2024 and 25. High school sports season.
Follow Fox News Digital’s x Sports Coverageand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.