From Fox News: Two Oregon female athletes were honored at the seventh annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards on Thursday night for their decision to speak out in support of women’s rights in sports after refusing to stand on a podium alongside a transgender opponent — a decision neither girl realized would become part of the national discourse.
Alexa Anderson, a freshman competing in the pole vault at the University of South Alabama, and Reese Eckard, a member of the Biola University women’s track and field team, were awarded the “Most Valuable Patriot Award” at Thursday night’s ceremony in Brookville, New York, after they refused to stand on the podium in the Oregon State Activities Association’s girls high jump final in May, after a transgender student placed fifth in the event.
In a lawsuit filed after the incident, the girls claimed they were excluded from official photos and that their medals were withheld.
But Thursday night, both girls were honored in a moving, patriotic ceremony, receiving not only the beautiful Patriot Award, but were also surprised with the medals they had missed out on earlier.
“Nothing will happen if you do nothing”
Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard, who refused to stand on a podium at a track meet with a trans athlete, are honored with the ‘Most Valuable Patriot Award’ at the @foxnation Patriot Awards. pic.twitter.com/Rgl3vI9iRc
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 7, 2025
Anderson and Eckard then appeared on Fox and Friends Friday morning, and shared what it was like to be honored at the Patriot Awards the night before.
They both indicated they would remained involved in standing up for women’s rights and continue speaking out against biological males in women’s sports.
WATCH BELOW:
We’ve come a long way.
From ridiculing women & girls for standing up for themselves, to celebrating them for doing so.
Congrats, Alexa Anderson & Reese Eckard on winning the Most Valuable Patriot Award.
(Oh and nice XX-XY tees!) pic.twitter.com/qUxUChuoU8
— XX-XY Athletics (@xx_xyathletics) November 7, 2025
READ MORE from Fox News.
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
