Erik van Leeuwen (bron: Wikipedia). – Zenfolio – Erki Pictures
Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, qualified to represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics after running the women’s 1,500 meter race in the second fastest time ever.
“This is bigger than just me. It’s the last day of Pride Month,” they said. “I wanted to run this one for my community,” they said. “All the LGBT folks, yeah, you guys brought me home that last hundred. I could just feel the love and support.”
Hiltz holds the U.S. Record in the mile and was the 2023 U.S. 1,500 meter champion. This year, they won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships. They identify as lesbian and came out as transgender and nonbinary on International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2021.
— David Taffet