“Rooted in misogyny and controlling women”- Nikki Hiltz lashes out at IOC banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports

Nikki Hiltz recently took a jab at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for planning a ban on transgender athletes' participation in women's sports. While the current rules allow transgender athletes to participate in the Games, the ban is poised to come into effect after the IOC session in February, ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Till now, the IOC had given the liberty to the individual sports federations to decide whether transgender athletes were allowed to compete. The IOC is now aiming for uniform rules for all sports and athletes. Following the new developments, transgender athlete Hiltz, who identifies as cisgender, criticized the decision by referring to it as 'misogyny and controlling women and femininity.' Hiltz came out as transgender non-binary in March 2021.

As they were assigned female at birth and have not undergone any transition surgery, Hiltz is allowed to compete with other female athletes. World Athletics has specific testosterone limits for participation. Hiltz took a swipe at the new decision, stating that although it targets trans athletes, it also affects cisgender women.

"Policing trans people and stripping them of their rights has never just been about trans people. It's rooted in misogyny and controlling women and femininity. This is a direct example of how transphobia will effect cis women. 'Cis Females with Male levels of Testosterone' hello? What are male levels of testosterone? How are they going to determine what's too high of levels? Who will be targeted? At what point is a cis woman athlete too tall or too strong to compete? And also, why shouldn't cis women with naturally elevated levels of testosterone not be able to compete in the Olympics? Are cis men with naturally elevated levels of testosterone going to be able to compete?"

Screenshot of Hiltz's Instagram story.

Nikki Hiltz opens up about embracing their transgender identity

Nikki Hiltz at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Getty Images)

Nikki Hiltz opens up about embracing their transgender identity over being an athlete. In a recent interview, they highlighted that although they enjoy being an athlete now, their identity as a transgender person will be with them forever.

“I’m just like competitive as hell,” they said. “When I get on the track, I just want to beat everyone. But I’m not always going to be an athlete. I’m always going to be trans. So it’s a really cool point in my life where I get to be both, loudly and proudly.” (via .olympics.com)

Nikki Hiltz became the first openly trans and non-binary athlete to compete at the Olympics.