Jul 2
Runner Nikki Hiltz Will Bring Trans, Non-Binary Representation to the Paris Olympic Games
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Transgender and non-binary runner Nikki Hiltz is headed to the Paris Olympics after they qualified for the games with a record-setting time for the women's 1,500 meter race at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on June 30, according to NBC News.
"Hiltz, who uses they/them pronouns, charged ahead of Elle St. Pierre and Emily Mackay in the final stretch of the race, finishing with a time of 3:55:33, a trials record," NBC News reported. "Paris will mark Hiltz's Olympic debut."
Hiltz, a California native, took note of the race's timing, saying in a post-race interview, "This is bigger than just me. It's the last day of Pride Month."
The athlete went on to say that they "wanted to run this one for my community," and gave a grateful shoutout to the community.
"All the LGBT folks, yeah, you guys brought me home that last hundred," Hiltz said. "I could just feel the love and support."
Hiltz also gave props to fellow American Elle St. Pierre, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and also qualified for Paris. "Elle St. Pierre has elevated women's distance running," Hiltz said. "We all had to rise because of her."
Added the Olympics-bound champ, "Awesome team we're sending to Paris."
Hiltz took to Instagram the day after their win, posting that they were "just so grateful for my people, overwhelmed by all the love and support, and filled with joy that I get to race people I deeply love and respect around a track for a living 🙏".
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
