Who is Alexa Anderson? Division I athlete leads legal battle for free speech

University of South Alabama freshman Alexa Anderson was a top recruit nationally in the women’s track and field pole vault last year and still found time to take on the establishment.

Anderson filed a lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) over the summer after she walked off a medal podium to protest a transgender athlete. Anderson’s lawsuit alleges that she was told to leave the medalists’ photo session and was not given her third-place medal.

The lawsuit aims to ensure that high school athletes in Oregon are allowed to express their First Amendment right to free speech without fear of retaliation from officials. The lawsuit has already approved one of OSAA’s strike motions.

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Anderson comes from a family of Democrats but came to admire Charlie Kirk.

Anderson told News Digital in an interview in June that he comes from a family of Democrats in Oregon. However, he said they also strongly agreed with his stance on protecting women’s sports from trans male athletes. But she had her own approach.

“I think who I vote for is going to be whoever aligns most with my personal values, whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican,” he said.

Then, in September, he witnessed the murder of Charlie Kirk.

“I followed that very closely,” he said. “I think it’s incredibly horrible that a young man was separated from his family, separated from his children, just for standing up for what he believed in.”

Anderson was inspired by Kirk after watching him lead conversations with women’s sports activist Riley Gaines.

“It was really great to see people with so much influence supporting this issue, knowing that people like that support us,” Anderson said.

“I hope he’s proud of what we’re doing, that we stand up for what we believe in, because everything I’ve seen from Charlie Kirk, that was his message. He always wanted to stand up for what he believes in and spread it to other people and educate them.”

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Growing up, Anderson ‘idolized’ Simone Biles. now it’s complicated

Before she did high jump and pole vault, Anderson was a gymnast as a child and had the same hero as so many young gymnasts across the United States: Simone Biles.

“I was a gymnast for nine years. I idolized her since 2012, when she really started to become the best of all time,” Anderson said.

When asked how Anderson feels about Biles now, he referenced the legendary gymnast’s online feud with Gaines.

“I think she’s an incredible athlete, but I don’t agree with how she handled that situation. I think it was hateful and hurtful and it’s not a good thing for all the girls who look up to her,” Anderson said.

What upset Anderson the most was when Biles appeared to “body shame” Gaines, with the Olympic legend writing: “bullying someone your size, who ironically would be a man.”

“When I saw a tweet of her shaming Riley and saying ‘pick on someone your size,’ that really hurt me,” Anderson said of Biles.

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He found refuge in south Alabama after enduring an online hate campaign.

Anderson became an overnight sensation in Save Women’s Sports social media circles after she and fellow Oregon athlete Reese Eckard abandoned their third and fourth place finishes on a medal podium to protest a trans athlete who finished fifth.

Then came the DMs.

Some were kind and supportive. But others were not. And he even responded to some of them.

“When I got one of my first hate comments, I just brushed it off. I said, ‘Thank you for sharing your opinion. I respect your opinion. This is mine and this is what I stood for,'” Anderson said in June. “I’ve responded to some.”

Anderson had just committed to the University of South Alabama in January and was about to graduate. And when she made the decision to use her platform to protest a trans athlete, she was a 2023 state pole vault champion, a national All-American, a sixth-place under-20 finisher and eighth nationally in the high school girls’ pole vault in the class of 2025.

She later revealed that the negative comments escalated to the point of death threats and alleged calls to her school demanding she be expelled before graduating as her story gained momentum.

“There were people calling my school asking me to be expelled and not be allowed to walk at graduation,” Anderson alleged. “I had people messaging me personally, saying horrible things, including death threats.”

“I hope you die” was one of the messages he received, he said. Another said: “Your parents are definitely ashamed of you.”

“It definitely hurt,” he said.

A spokesperson for Tigard High School declined to provide further details about the situation to News Digital, writing, “We have no comment to share.”

Anderson’s commitment to South Alabama earlier this year put her in an environment where she feels safe and accepted.

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“Many people have [seen the viral video of the protest]especially on my track team. “A lot of people know what happened and everyone has been very understanding and kind,” Anderson said.

South Alabama’s track and field season begins in late January, and Anderson will participate in Sun Belt Conference competition as he advances his claim.

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