Free Republic

<p>EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Nikki Hiltz is shining in two lanes these days. On the track, it's as a 1,500-meter runner who just earned a trip to the Paris Games. Away from it, the transgender and nonbinary runner serves as role model for the queer community. Hiltz competes in the female category. Hiltz ran a personal best and meet-record time of 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds at U.S. track trials last weekend to win the event and earn a spot at Paris. They also organize a 5K race to support LGBTQ+ organizations. Hiltz is the American record holder in the women's mile.</p>

Transgender and nonbinary middle-distance runner Nikki Hiltz ran the second fastest time ever of any American in the women’s 1500-meter race at the U.S. Olympic Trials Sunday, qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 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. All of the top eight finishers set a new personal best time, according to OutSports. Paris will mark Hiltz’s Olympic debut. In a post-race interview with NBC Sports, Hiltz, 29, said the race had significance...