Two Oregon high school athletes who staged a protest at a state championship event earlier this year have been recognised at a national conservative awards ceremony, receiving praise for refusing to share a podium with a transgender competitor.

Reese Eckard of Sherwood High School and Alexa Anderson of Tigard High School were presented with the Most Valuable Patriot Award at FOX Nation’s Patriot Awards on Thursday evening.

The pair had finished fourth and third respectively at the Oregon state championships in May, where a transgender athlete tied for fifth.

Footage captured at the time showed Eckard and Anderson stepping away as the podium ceremony was about to begin.

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They turned their backs to the crowd and were subsequently guided away by an event official after declining to stand beside the transgender competitor.

The moment drew attention across the United States and intensified the ongoing debate surrounding gender identity and fairness in girls’ and women’s sport.

On stage at the ceremony, Anderson told the audience that her reaction had been guided by principle.

Two Oregon high school athletes who staged a protest at a state championship event earlier this year have been recognised at a national conservative awards ceremony, receiving praise for refusing to share a podium with a transgender competitor | Source: GETTY

“In that moment, I had an opportunity to stand up for what I believed in. I knew I couldn’t just act like this was a normal meet,” she said, describing the decision as instinctive rather than pre-planned.

Eckard echoed those sentiments, adding that her actions were intended to reflect concerns shared by many young athletes.

“Stepping off the podium for me was a pretty simple decision,” she said. “I wanted to make a stand for all the female athletes.”

America high school | Source: GETTY

The teenagers suggested that the protest was met with disapproval on the day. According to their recollection, an official told them they could either face forward and participate in the ceremony or leave the photographs entirely.

Eckard said the reaction made them feel as though expressing dissent was discouraged.

“It felt like we weren’t allowed to express our disagreement,” she said. “I’m proud of the courage God gave me in the moment to stand up for what was right and to stand up for all the female athletes who are afraid to speak out on this issue.”

Their actions were publicly applauded by activist and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has become one of the most prominent voices campaigning against the inclusion of transgender athletes in female sporting categories.

Gaines referred to Eckard and Anderson as “heroines,” arguing that young athletes should not be expected to compete against those who were born male.

Anderson later told Fox News that her motivation had been grounded in fairness rather than animosity.

Reese Eckard of Sherwood High School and Alexa Anderson of Tigard High School were presented with the Most Valuable Patriot Award at FOX Nation\u2019s Patriot Awards on Thursday evening | Source: GETTY

“It’s unfair because biological males and biological females compete at such different levels,” she said.

“Letting a biological male into our competition is taking up space and opportunities from these hardworking women. The girl in ninth who should have come in eighth and had that podium spot taken away from her, as well as many others.”

She also stressed that her protest was not intended to target the transgender community itself.

“We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate,” she said.

“We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right.

“In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls’ sports we must stand up for what is right.”

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