Won't someone please believe Nikki Hiltz

WOMAN

“Fun fact. I actually don’t identify as a woman. I’m nonbinary… so a woman still hasn’t won this race. Let’s get a woman out there next year.” That, from middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz after winning the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Hawaii. The Merrie Mile is an equalizer race in which the women got a 32-second head start on the men, so, ironically, an explicitly sex-based race.

Fun fact. Hiltz is the only person on this planet who believes her gender identity is at all relevant to her athletic career. LetsRun pointed out that Hiltz is biologically female running in the female category as per World Athletics rules, which do not recognize nonbinary identities in elite events, but failed to clarify that Hiltz’s 4:28.39 narrowly missed the women’s American record of 4:28.07. And again bowing to Hiltz’s constant denial of being a woman, LetsRun wrote: “For Hiltz, the performance caps an exceptional 2024 campaign that included U.S. indoor and outdoor 1500 titles, the latter coming in a thrilling win at the Olympic Trials in 3:55.33, the second-fastest time ever by an American.” Uhhhh, to be clear, that would be the second fastest time by an American woman.

I’ve written before that Hiltz’s loud insistence that she is not a woman, usually as some ignorant, bigoted women’s medal is being hung around her neck, is A) tiresome, and B) offensive to people with firing synapses. But maybe I was wrong. I think, finally, it was the tiny size 2 suit and tie that convinced me. No woman would wear that.

If I’ve learned anything about gender identity ideology it’s to believe people when they tell you who they are. Affirm affirm affirm. Hiltz cannot pass a microphone without declaring her transgender nonbinary-ness, so race directors should take her at her word. That they are not is pure trans hate.

The Olympic Trials, US Nationals, and yes, the Merrie Mile do not offer a nonbinary category because at the elite level, everyone knows gender identity is irrelevant and sex matters. Everyone knows gender identity is irrelevant and sex matters at every level, but race organizations feel it’s okay to ignore reality when it’s just amateurs. So, unfortunately nonbinary Hiltz could not enter those fancy prestigious races without misrepresenting herself. But she would still have her authentic self respect.

And if she was forced to sublimate her authentic self and enter the women’s race, of course she would never accept any award or prize money because she is not a woman, she’s nonbinary. She said so herself. Many times. Why are race directors foisting women’s awards and prize money on a person who loudly denies being a woman? Why aren’t we believing her when she tells us who she is?

Hiltz was also awarded the women’s indoor and outdoor U.S. National 1500-meter title, a silver medal in the women’s 1500-meter race at the indoor World Championship. and competed in the women’s 1500 at the Paris Olympics. Why? Women’s places and awards should go to women who admit to being women. Those events must have been truly soul-crushing for Hiltz. She is so vocally committed to her nonbinary identity, and so disdainful of her sex category, by golly, her feelings should be honored. Her identity should be honored. I will not stand by and watch Nikki Hiltz be hatefully forced to take another women’s gold-plated award.