Trans athletes are having a moment on American Ninja Warrior right now.
The popular obstacle course competition show is currently on its 17th season. And for the first time in the show’s history, two out trans men were featured as competitors.
Jenson Little, a doctor of physical therapy from New York, competed in previous seasons of the show before coming out as trans. He came back this year to represent himself and other trans athletes on a major stage. Clayton Reeves, an auto detailer and content creator from Iowa, has been using social media to document his journey as a rookie trans athlete on the show.
American Ninja Warrior is a uniquely gender-neutral athletic competition, with the courses and obstacles the same for everybody regardless of gender. Because of that, the show has opened doors for female athletes to get recognition in typically male-dominated arenas—and it could very well do the same for trans athletes.
Clayton and Jensen might not have made it to the American Ninja Warrior finals, but they’re using their platforms to defy expectations and continue to represent trans athletes on and off screen.
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