Latest news with #KJPhillips
National Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Female cyclist defends decision to not take podium with transgender winner
A female cyclist took a stand by not taking a stand — on the podium. Article content Julie Cutts Peterson refused to take to the stage after finishing second in a women's cycling race last week that was won by a transgender athlete. Article content Article content Article content 🏆 A man won the @usacycling women's masters 55-59 national championship road race today. Here's "Katheryn/KJ" (James) Phillips proudly standing on the top step. Second place and rightful winner Julie Peterson is absent from the podium.👍 Why does USAC continue to allow this? — 🚲 (@i_heart__bikes) July 1, 2025 Article content 'At the finish line, I was upset. I said, 'I did not want to race against a man,'' Peterson said, referring to a post-race statement that made the crowd gasp. 'In my mind, I was like, 'I can say that, I have freedom of speech.' Article content 'I was raised believing in the Bible where men are created by God and God created women from men, I was born and raised in America, where I learned my pronouns and I took science classes that taught me about XX and XY and I believe that most Americans and people worldwide would support men not being in women's categories.' Article content Peterson came in second place to Katheryn 'KJ' Phillips — a transgender athlete who was born a biological male — at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin on July 1. Article content Peterson is one of several veteran female cyclists who have spoken out against USA Cycling, claiming the organization failed to disclose the participation of a transgender athlete. Article content Article content Peterson said she only knew that a transgender athlete was in the race after Phillips came 'out of nowhere' during the final sprint. Article content Article content 'I knew at that sprint that that was a man's sprint,' Peterson said, while noting her experience riding among both men and women. Article content It was a shock to Peterson and other competitors, who claim that Phillips' name was not included on the registration list, 'which means that we were not given the information that he would be racing in our category before the race started.' Article content
Fox News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Outraged female cyclists expose 'deception' after trans competitor dominates championship race
Veteran female cyclists are speaking out against USA Cycling after they claim the organization failed to disclose the participation of a transgender athlete in a recent race. "It was hidden from us," competitor Debbie Milne told "Fox & Friends" Thursday. Milne, who placed seventh in the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin, explained she and fellow cyclists typically review the list of registered athletes ahead of a race to assess the competition. But she said neither she nor Julie Peterson, who placed in second, saw the name of a transgender competitor, Kate "KJ" Phillips, on the entry list. "Catherine Phillips, KJ's name, was not on that list. And I checked it up all the way to the point of closure when we couldn't register online anymore," said Milne. Phillips went on to win first place in the race. Peterson declined to stand on her second-place podium during the awards ceremony in protest. Milne called Peterson's decision "difficult" but supported the choice, saying she would've done the same in her position. "She's [Peterson] a class athlete. We respect our sport," Milne said, explaining both athletes felt disrespected by the lack of transparency from race organizers after decades devoted to the sport. "We respect podiums. It's really tough to do something that significant. It's disrespect," she said. "She [Peterson] felt that there had not been transparency." According to Milne, neither she nor Peterson believe the omission of Phillips' name was accidental, referring to the incident as "deception." She said Peterson later got confirmation Phillips had been registered since mid-June, long before the online list closed. The cyclist added that, had she known, she might have reconsidered spending hundreds of dollars and traveling over 400 miles to compete. Milne decried a lack of fairness in USA Cycling's transgender athlete guidelines. USA Cycling currently permits transgender women to race in female divisions, but under certain conditions. Athletes need to submit a signed declaration affirming they identify as a female, and they need to meet criteria laid out in the group's Elite Athlete Fairness Evaluation Process. Writing in part on their website: "The Policy recognizes the need to ensure that everyone, irrespective of gender identity, can participate in cycling in a safe, harassment-free environment," adding they look to ensure no participant has an "unfair and disproportionate advantage." Milne pointed out that unlike USA Cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), considered the world governing body for cycling, has a policy that restricts transgender women from competing in female-designated events.
