Transgender, non-binary athlete Nikki Hiltz qualifies for Olympics with Team USA - and Megan Rapinoe leads celebrations on social media

 Nikki Hiltz, a transgender non-binary runner qualified for US Olympic team after winning the Women's 1,500-meter race at trails over the weekend.

Hiltz, a biological female identifying as transgender non-binary, set the meet record with their run at 3 minutes and 55.53 seconds. In doing so, Hiltz broke the record set by Elle St. Pierre in 2021.

They also won the 1,500-meter race at the 2023 US Championships to foreshadow their Olympic berth.

Hiltz's partner is another groundbreaking athlete, Emma Gee, who was the first out LGBTQ+ athlete to compete for Brigham Young University.

Like many distance runners, the two are based in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they are frequently seen running the area's many trails. Track Town USA has referred to Gee and Hiltz as one of the sport's 'power couples.'

The feat was shared by USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe on her Instagram. 

Rapinoe's celebration, however, came after she was silenced by a reporter asking about her stance on trans athletes competing in women's sports. 

During the Pride Month celebrations in Seattle, the retired midfielder was approached by reporter Katie Daviscourt from the Post Millennial. 

'Your US Women's Soccer team famously lost to high school boys... do you really think it's fair for these same boys to be competing in girls' sports?' Daviscourt asked.

Midway through the question, Rapinoe is seen laughing at the reporter, before turning to her fiancée, Sue Bird, and muttering under her breath, 'Oh my god'. 

Despite being blocked, Daviscourt continues: 'Do you think it's fair? Why should trans people compete against young girls? Do you think they're gonna get hurt?'

Rapinoe, who has loudly advocated for trans athletes - was met with backlash for her silence when questioned on her stance. 

Hiltz's situation, however, differs as they have maintained their biological gender from a physical standpoint. Nevertheless, the runner celebrated their Olympic qualification - which happened on the last day of Pride Month. 

'I told myself, I'm not going to think about all the love and support (I have) until 100 meters to go,' Hiltz said, via Runner's World. '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.'

'I literally can't believe it. I mean, this is bigger than me,' Hiltz told 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.' 

Hiltz competed at the collegiate level at Oregon and Arkansas in the mid-2000 and garnered All-American honors in 2018. They also won a silver medal in the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and gold in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. 

'Woke up an Olympian,' Hiltz said on Monday as their celebrations continued.