Jaylin Liu, the transgender sibling of Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu, has recently garnered attention for competing in girls' athletic events and achieving significant success. Liu, who previously identified as Joshua, has been a participant on girls' track and field teams for both Albany High School and El Cerrito High School in California.
Since the 2025 season, Liu has reportedly secured eight first-place finishes at seasonal meets. This includes a gold medal in the 200-meter race at the 2025 Tri-County Athletic League Frosh-Soph Championship. The 2026 track season saw Liu continue this trend, achieving first place in every 200-meter and 400-meter girls' race entered for Albany, culminating in a top finish at the Tri-County Athletic League Finals in May.
Beyond track and field, Liu has also reportedly competed in girls' varsity basketball and ultimate frisbee. During the Ultimate High School National Invite in Oregon, Liu's performance in ultimate frisbee was described as 'extremely dominant' in tournament coverage.
These developments have drawn criticism from women's sports advocacy organizations. Marshi Smith of the Independent Council on Women's Sports stated that the Liu family represents a duality, highlighting Alysa's achievements in women's sports while suggesting her brother's pursuits pose a threat to the integrity of those same sports. Smith expressed concern that such participation could undermine developmental pathways for girls.
A spokesperson for the independent tracking platform HeCheated commented on the challenging position female athletes, particularly those with male family members competing in women's categories, might face. The organization suggested that clear rules protecting the female sports category place the onus on athletic officials to make decisions rather than on young female athletes.
Jaylin Liu attended the Winter Olympic Games in Milan to support his sister, Alysa, alongside their father, Arthur Liu. The discussions surrounding Liu's participation in girls' sports coincide with a broader national debate on transgender athletes in women's sports, which has recently intensified within professional leagues such as the WNBA. This debate was further fueled by comments from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who called for restrictions to protect female athletes, and a counter-response from Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who wore a 'Trans Kids Belong' t-shirt on the sidelines.