Nikki Hiltz, a cisgender female runner who identifies as “non-binary transgender,” recently punched her ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Hiltz, who competed collegiately at Oregon and Arkansas, earned the prestigious honor by setting a course record in the 1,500-meter dash with a time of three minutes and 55.53 seconds.
After the victory, Hiltz shouted out “LGBTQ folks” for inspiration on the win in a post-race interview.
“I literally can’t believe it. I mean, this is bigger than me,” Hiltz said in an interview with NBC Sports. “It’s the last day of Pride month. I wanted to run this one for my community, and yeah, all the LGBTQ folks. You guys brought me home that last hundred [meters]. I could just feel the love and support.”
Last night I qualified for my 7th straight US 1500 final. I’ve seen many ways this race is run and I truly believe I’m ready for anything on Sunday!
This is a DEEP 1500 final. A rising tide lifts all boats and this field has risen to an epic level! Excited, grateful, ready 🙏 pic.twitter.com/iFVPXaba2T
— Nikki Hiltz (@Nikki_Hiltz) June 29, 2024
“I told myself, I’m not going to think about all the love and support (I have) until 100 meters to go,’” Hiltz said on Sunday. “And then, at that moment, you can let it all fill you up and push you to the finish line.’ That’s exactly what I did, and I think that’s what brought me home.”
Hiltz earned All-American honors at Arkansas in 2018.
The 2024 Olympic Games start Friday, July 26th, and conclude on August 11th.
[Fox News]
