A transgender athlete has shared her victory after winning a race against biologically female athletes, despite dealing with running shoes that were falling apart. Sadie Schreiner, previously known as Camden, took first place at a college track and field meet over the weekend, finishing far ahead of the nearest female runner.
After her win, Schreiner posted about the race on Instagram, expressing that the conditions weren’t ideal. “Not the race I was looking for this week,” she said, explaining that her shoes were almost falling apart, and her start wasn’t great. Despite this, she remains optimistic, saying, “The good news is the season just started, and I’m going to give it everything at nationals.”
Schreiner’s victory is part of a larger trend of transgender athletes finding success in women’s sports. However, this has sparked criticism, with some experts arguing that transgender women have a physical advantage due to the effects of male puberty.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, known for her support of LGBTQ+ rights, has expressed concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports. She tweeted her disappointment with emojis, stating that biological women should compete only against other biological women. Navratilova supported World Athletics’ decision to restrict transgender women from international competitions, calling it a “step in the right direction.”
Some online users also criticized Schreiner, mocking her for beating female athletes. “Imagine being a man bragging about beating women,” one comment read, while another person ridiculed the victory as “not impressive.”
Schreiner, from Hillsborough, New Jersey, competes for the Rochester Institute of Technology in NCAA Division III track and field. She specializes in the 200m and 400m events and is also studying photography. In 2022, she competed in the men’s category and placed 19th. Since transitioning and competing in the women’s category, she has placed higher.
Schreiner has been an advocate for transgender inclusion in sports. She believes understanding and support are key in addressing the challenges faced by transgender athletes, especially as the issue becomes more political.