At 5 feet 4 inches, Nikki Hitlz is fierce, fearless, and dominating the track. So, how are they doing it? By smashing records and making every stride count! Most recently, they claimed the fastest Women’s 800m short distance time of 2025, clocking 1:58.23 at the Grand Slam Track Slam Weekend. Living up to their motto of “only the fastest,” Nikki didn’t just win—they set the pace for the year. And just when it looked like their season was building toward something even bigger, heartbreaking news came up.
Nikki Hiltz just dropped some unexpected news on Instagram—and it hit deeper than just a race-day update. They were all set to return to Des Moines on April 22 for the US Road Mile Championships, a place that means a lot to them. After all, it’s where they made history last year, clocking a blistering 4:27.97 at the Grand Blue Mile—a time that went on to become the first official world record for the road mile. But this time around, Nikki’s calling it off. Not because of an injury or training hiccup, but because sometimes, the environment doesn’t feel right—and that matters more than any finish line.
As Nikki shared on Instagram, “I won’t be competing there now due to some scheduling changes with the Road Running World Championships.” It was a personal decision, but one that came in the middle of what was shaping up to be a major season. Nikki had been eyeing the World Athletics Road Running Championships, originally set for September 28 in San Diego. But then came the twist—World Athletics pulled the plug on the San Diego plans, announcing that the 2025 championships have been moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, and rescheduled for September 19–20, 2026. Still, this decision didn’t come without emotion.
Nikki Hiltz used the moment to share a heartfelt message with the LGBTQ+ community in Des Moines, writing, “It’s a scary place to be a queer person right now but I firmly believe the power of the people is stronger than the people in power.” They also expressed deep gratitude for the love they’ve always felt while racing in Iowa, adding, “I hope to be back sometime soon.” So what sparked that message?
It goes back to 2023, when Iowa passed laws that removed gender identity from the state’s civil rights protections, impacting everything from housing to employment to public spaces. And with that kind of political climate brewing, Nikki Hiltz, who’s never shied away from speaking up, has been even more vocal lately, especially after Trump’s executive order targeting trans athletes.
Nikki Hiltz fires back at Donald Trump’s trans athlete ban
A few months back, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order called Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. The name alone sparked outrage, but the details? Even more concerning. The order defines s*x strictly as the gender assigned at birth and aims to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, especially in schools or organizations that receive federal funding. Needless to say, this move sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and hit trans athletes particularly hard.
Just before competing in the iconic Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games on February 8, Nikki Hiltz took to social media and didn’t mince words. They called out the order and stood up for trans inclusion in sports. After a nail-biting race where Nikki finished third in 4:23.50—just behind Georgia Bell and Heather MacLean—their message was louder than ever. “There are a lot of people struggling right now… the trans community, specifically, is under attack,” Nikki said afterward. They reminded everyone that trans athletes make up fewer than 10 out of 500,000 competitors, adding, “This should not be the focus of an executive order.”
But even with everything going on, Nikki Hiltz stayed hopeful. Whether it’s racing on the track or speaking out off of it, Nikki’s making sure their voice—and the voices of others like them—are heard.
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