Alexa Anderson, the Oregon high-school track star who alleges she wasn’t given her medal for months after protesting a transgender athlete, until she filed a lawsuit:

Background of the Incident
In May 2025, during the Oregon State High School Championships in the girls’ high jump, 18-year-old Alexa Anderson, a senior at Tigard High School, and her teammate Reese Eckard (from Sherwood High), made national headlines.

Anderson placed third, and Eckard placed fourth, but instead of standing on the medal podium, they stepped down in protest when a transgender athlete, Liaa Rose, who had previously competed in the boys’ division, tied for fifth. (New York Post)

They quietly walked off their podium positions, turned their backs, and stood in the field, refusing to be part of the traditional award ceremony. (Fox News)

According to Anderson, she believed that allowing a biological male (as she framed it) to compete in the girls’ division was unfair and threatened the integrity of women’s sports. (New York Post)

Allegations in the Lawsuit
After the protest, Anderson and Eckard filed a federal lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), claiming First Amendment violations. (americafirstpolicy.com)

In the suit, they allege that OSAA retaliated against them:

1. By excluding them from the official championship photos, even though they had earned their podium spots. (Fox News)

2. By withholding their medals. According to Anderson, after she asked an official when they would receive their medals, she was told the medals would be shipped to her school – but they never arrived. (Fox News)

3. The lawsuit claims this is especially problematic because OSAA permits and even celebrates other forms of political speech (such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride), but penalized the girls for expressing a dissenting viewpoint. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Their attorneys argue that stepping down from the podium was a form of protected speech, not hate speech, and that OSAA’s actions amounted to viewpoint-based suppression.

Delay in Receiving the Medal
One of the most contentious parts of the lawsuit is Anderson’s claim that she did not receive her medal for months. (Fox News)

Instead of being sent to her high school, the medals were allegedly sent directly to the law firm representing her (the America First Policy Institute, AFPI). (Fox News)

According to Anderson, her medal was only formally presented much later, at a Fox Nation Patriot Awards ceremony in November 2025, where she and Eckard were honored with the “Most Valuable Patriot” award. (Fox News)

Harassment and Fallout
Anderson has also spoken publicly about the personal toll the incident took on her.

She says she received death threats, including messages like “I hope you die,” and that some people even called her school to push for her expulsion. (Fox News)

Despite the backlash, she appears steadfast in her position, framing her protest as a principled stand for what she views as fairness in women’s sports.

She has said that she knew there would be “consequences” when she stepped off the podium but considered it part of the sacrifice she was making. (Fox News)

Legal Progress
The lawsuit has already cleared a significant hurdle.

A federal judge (U.S. District Judge Youlee Yim You) denied OSAA’s motion to strike parts of the case. (AOL)

Specifically, the judge rejected OSAA’s attempt to remove the argument related to viewpoint-based discrimination, which is central to Anderson’s claim. (New York Post)

Anderson’s legal team (AFPI) says the case is about more than just her medal — they want to establish First Amendment protections for student-athletes, so that all viewpoints can be expressed, even if they are controversial. (americafirstpolicy.com)

Wider Implications
The case contributes to the broader, heated debate over transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports.

For Anderson and Eckard, the protest was framed not as a personal attack on the trans athlete, but as a defense of what they believe is fair competition for biological females.

But their action has drawn sharp criticism too, from those who argue that their protest is exclusionary or discriminatory. The legal action amplifies these questions:

To what extent can student athletes protest the inclusion of transgender competitors?

Do school associations have the right to withhold recognition (like medals) in response?

Alexa Anderson’s story is more than just a high-school sports controversy — it’s become a legal battle that touches on free speech, fairness in sport, and how schools navigate politically charged and sensitive issues.

According to her, she worked hard all season to earn that medal.

Yet she alleges she had to go to court just to get what she won, because of her peaceful protest.