6/24 Note: On June 23, it was announced that Telfer will not compete in the U.S. Olympic trials for the 400 meter hurdles. Telfer's manager, David McFarland, said Telfer respects the decision: "CeCe is focused on the future and continues to train. She will soon be competing on the national and world stage again."

Original article In 2019, track and field athlete CeCe Telfer became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA (open in new tab) title (in her signature event, the 400m hurdles). And now she is eyeing the world's highest podium, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. If she qualifies, she could become one of the first openly transgender athletes in history to compete in an Olympic event. Even if she doesn't, Telfer has already made history. In addition to working tirelessly in her sport, she is using her voice to make a difference in an athletics community that has historically been filled with discrimination and prejudice against transgender athletes.

It's a reality Telfer knows all too well. As she says in her profile in The New York Times (opens in new tab), her college track team at Franklin Pierce University supported her running, but she struggled to find coaches to guide her in her Olympic aspirations and the right training resources to help her find a coach and the right training resources. She was also subjected to a new regulation: as stipulated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eligibility requirements, she had to suppress her testosterone levels and maintain them for at least one year in order to compete.

Although there is little conclusive evidence to support the idea that transgender athletes have a competitive advantage in sports, nevertheless, there has been a recent wave of anti-transgender bans and laws restricting transgender sports at various levels of competition in the United States ( up to 80) have been coming into force. Earlier this month, Florida passed a law banning transgender women from competing on public school and college girls' teams. The ban is discriminatory and stigmatizing to transgender athletes.

As Telfer told The New York Times, her major motivation for competing is to empower young transgender athletes to pursue their dreams.

At this time, it is unclear whether Telfer will be able to compete in the Olympic trials (opens in new tab), which begin tomorrow in Eugene, Oregon. (Her competition is on June 25.) To qualify for the trials, she would need to run a time of 56.50, which is one second behind Telfer's best. However, due to training challenges related to the pandemic, USA Track & Field has announced that as many as 28 athletes may compete in the trials (opens in new tab).

Whether she competes in the Trials or eventually makes the Olympic team (she would have to finish in the top three at the Trials), Telfer has changed the future of track and field. She is one of a handful of openly transgender candidates for the Olympic team, and her journey has been a source of inspiration for other aspiring athletes. (Just today, transgender cyclist Chelsea Wolfe was named an alternate (open in new tab) for the U.S. women's team in BMX freestyle.) Telfer has already offered her voice and shared her story in hopes of bringing long-term, systemic change to the world of athletics, both non-competitive and professional. She works to make sports a safe space for all who wish to compete.

Win or lose, Telfer is already paving the way for a more inclusive future. And that is exactly what deserves a medal.