Throughout her track career, former Connecticut high school track star Chelsea Mitchell lost more than 20 races that she claims was a direct result of the state’s policy allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ track events. And now, she’s suing the state as a result.
“At the end of the day, this is just about fairness,” Chelsea Mitchell told The New York Post. “This is about biology.”
Chelsea Mitchell told The New York Post that she has filed a lawsuit against the state of Connecticut claiming that her losses to transgender athletes resulted in missed scholarship opportunities because prospective colleges didn’t see her as “a winner.”
“When colleges looked at me, they didn’t see a winner. They saw a second- or third-place,” Mitchell said. “I wasn’t a first-place finisher, and I think that’s what really hurt me.”
It’s worth noting that Mitchell did indeed receive a scholarship from William & Mary, where she ran competed for two years before transferring to Belmont last year. Additionally, track scholarships are awarded based on times and individual performances – not an athlete’s place in any particular race.
It’s also worth noting that Mitchell actually beat the transgender runners on multiple occasions.
People were quick to point that out on social media as they expressed their anger with the lawsuit.
Let's talk about how college sports recruiting works! Because it doesn't work like this!
Coaches do not google "who won this event" and then offer them scholarships. They look at stats. Video. They scout. Not every disappointment in an athlete's life is the fault of trans ppl https://t.co/Oa5feMyNF4
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) June 9, 2023
the transgenders left her with no choice but to accept a scholarship from a top 50 school in the country
— Sarah (@itssarahlexi) June 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/SakakiIsCute/status/1666979313831354370?s=20
https://twitter.com/Staroxvia/status/1667145852165451776?s=20
did the trans athletes lower her times because i don't know if it matters whether she won or not everyone can see her times they publish the times https://t.co/T6TdxTYZqV
— Sen. Lemon Gogurt ugarles.bsky.social (@Ugarles) June 9, 2023
if she were anywhere close to the fastest girl in connecticut she would not be having a problem getting scholarships https://t.co/HTfFAoPkhZ
— hottiepants (@punishedpants) June 9, 2023
This girl came in 6th and the 1 (ONE) trans person in the race didnt win either https://t.co/4pYYFx0QRC
— Scurvy 🏴☠️ Bones (@Scurvy_Bones) June 10, 2023
Mitchell says that she continues to pursue the lawsuit to ensure that other girls do not have to deal with the same things she did.
“I wanted to give voice to my story and help other girls out there so that they wouldn’t have to experience this,” Mitchell said.
