Who is Ada Gallagher, the transgender teen setting school track records? The Oregon student’s participation in a recent championship reignited debate after she finished 7 seconds ahead of her rival
A high school in Oregon has sparked debate after allowing a transgender athlete to compete – and dominate – in a girls’ track competition, where she finished first in the 400- and 200-metre races
A high school in Oregon has sparked debate, after allowing a transgender athlete to compete – and dominate – in a girls’ track competition.
Ada Gallagher, a 16-year-old 11th grader at McDaniel High School in Portland, came in first place in the 400-metre and 200-metre races at the Portland Interscholastic League Championship, as reported by the New York Post. She was seen sprinting way ahead of her rivals, especially in the 400-metres, where she finished more than seven seconds faster than the runner behind her.
Gallagher previously competed as a 10th grader for the same competition last year, where she came in first place in the 200-metre and 400-metre races.
Here’s what we know about her amid the news.
Ada Gallagher is a high school student
Gallagher is currently a student at McDaniel High School in Portland, Oregon. “Hello, my name is Ada Gallagher, I love track,” she writes on her profile on the NCSA College Recruiting website. “I’m able to continue running when thousands of people wish for me to stop and doubt my integrity. And although I enjoy winning I love getting to participate in the sport as a whole.”
She is very athletic
Controversies aside, it’s clear that Gallagher has a sporty streak. She achieved a speedy time of 57.62 seconds in the 400-metres, and a time of 25.76 seconds in the 200-metre race – which were both season records for her, writes New York Post.