Martina Navratilova blasts Newsom after trans athlete qualifies for California girls’ track finals

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is once again taking aim at California Democrats after a transgender athlete qualified for a girls’ high school track championship event, sparking renewed national debate over fairness in women’s sports.

The former world No 1 sharply criticized California Gov Gavin Newsom over the controversy, accusing state leaders of failing female athletes by allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports categories.

Martina Navratilova slams Newsom over trans athlete issue

Navratilova reacted after reports confirmed that a transgender athlete had advanced to California’s girls’ state track championship competition, reigniting fierce arguments over inclusion policies and competitive fairness.

Navratilova joined criticism of the governor, supporting two gold medal-winning Olympians, Nancy Hogshead and Kaillie Humphries, who spoke out against the governor on Friday in an article published by OutKick.

“Right on Nancy!!! We are just built different!!!” Navratilova wrote in a post on X while sharing the article.

In response to another user, Navratilova argued that Newsom had the power to protect girls’ sports in California. “Newsom could overturn this in a second. No excuse,” Navratilova wrote.

In a later post, OutKick reported that Navratilova re-shared news that the transgender athlete, representing Jurupa Valley High School, is seeded first in the upcoming tournament.

“Cheating… which at the moment the rules allow. Thanks for nothing [Gavin Newsom],” Navratilova wrote.

The tennis icon, who has repeatedly spoken out against transgender participation in women’s sports, argued that biological differences create unfair advantages in female athletic competitions.

Navratilova has long maintained that protections for women’s sports should remain separate from broader debates over gender identity.

Olympians criticize California over transgender athlete controversy

Navratilova was not alone in criticizing California officials. According to Fox News’ OutKick, several Olympic gold medalists and prominent female athletes also condemned the situation ahead of the championship meet.

Regarding the upcoming track meet, Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead responded to a statement from Newsom’s office stating, “The Governor has said discussions on this issue should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect.”

Hogshead, also a civil rights lawyer and lifelong Democrat, said in an X post:

“Governor Newsom seems to exclude girls from his own standard of “fairness, dignity, and respect.”

Olympic bobsledder Kallie Humphries, a California resident and supporter of President Donald Trump, also criticized the California governor.

“Governor Newsom should be focusing on California hosting the Olympics, which actually knows the difference between men and women, and quit pushing his woke agenda, which is out of the mainstream of the American public,” Humphries told Fox News Digital.

The Department of Justice last July filed a lawsuit against California state agencies for alleged violations of Title IX, the federal law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities.