Nikki Hiltz never bit their tongue when it came to expressing their non-binary presence on or off the field. On their way to becoming a national champion in 2023, the 29-year-old middle-distance sprinter made a gesture toward the transgender pride flag flying high in the strands. After March 31, 2021, it has become a regular ritual when Nikki Hiltz proudly accepts their non-binary belongings and the message they bear whenever they garlands the contests with their presence. The Glasgow World Indoor Championship was no exception.
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On Day 3, the Santa Cruz native received their second position in the 1500m sprinting event. But the unspoken words that eventually motivated them to earn the Glasgow fame came into public recently. The entire experience stood out to be another riveting story, celebrating Nikki Hiltz’s belonging.
The story of us vs. them
In the latest podcast with Citius Mag, Nikki Hiltz faced the question of wearing the necklace bearing the “Them” wording in Glasgow. The Razorback sprinter proudly explained the story of Nex Benedict (the deceased 16-year-old non-binary student from Oklahoma). “It was hard last month, I think, for the non-binary community. We lost someone named Nex Benedict. And yeah, there’s a lot more bullying and harassment and hate towards the trans community”, they said. But extending the voice, they also roared, “I want to be impossible to be othered. I belong here”. That 1:32 minute visual went on the X from the Citius Mag, explaining every nook and corner of Nikki’s stand on the issue.
World Indoor Championship 1500m silver medalist @Nikki_Hiltz tells the story behind their “Them” necklace and running for the transgender/non-binary community following the death of Nex Benedict (the 16-year-old nonbinary student who died after an altercation in a high school… pic.twitter.com/mHhD9q1ugv
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) March 7, 2024
Nikki Hiltz’s firm statement meant to hover over all those individuals who “other a group of people”. But their aim revolved around stitching the communities as representative of the non-binary ones. The 2x national champion tried to douse the rising inequalities and hate crimes between the communities and show that every trans person belongs to society with their rights. That resolute voice already proved to be monumental in uplifting the non-binary status on her terms.
The right usage of privilege Nikki Hiltz enjoys
In amplifying the voice of the non-binary community, Nikki Hiltz started to use they/them pronouns. So, whenever they articulate any victory in the tracks, the joyous moment comes to the possession of the entire non-binary community. Moreover, after their contract ended with Adidas in 2022, Nikki didn’t try to renew it. Rather, they approached Lululemon as the activewear brand proved to be on the positive side in keeping the non-binary values. That financial backing helped the sprinter to do more things for the community.
Read more: “So Mentally Drained”: US Star Nikki Hiltz Voices Unheard Side of Track and Field
In 2022, they, along with their partner Emma Gee, started the flagship Nikki Hiltz Pride 5k fundraiser that continues with unwavering support to date. In expressing their effort, they once commented, “I have all this privilege. I feel like I should be using it to help get more people in the door, and open the door for others.” In Glasgow, this stand proved again.
Also read: Who Is Nikki Hiltz Dating? All You Need To Know About the Olympic Champion’s Girlfriend
