Track star says she's tired of Christians being called 'bigots' for opposing trans athletes in girls' sports

Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is a Republican frontrunner in the race for California's next governor, spoke to Fox News Digital about the state's biggest sports issues.

Crean Lutheran High School girls’ track and field athlete Olivia Viola will compete against a trans athlete in the state tournament for the third year in a row. 

Viola watched a trans competitor break her personal record and knock her out of the state tournament last season, and on top of that, she has had to face criticism for speaking out in support of herself and other female athletes. 

As a Christian, the issue is important to Viola, but she also believes it applies to women of all beliefs. But she also suggested that Christians are being unfairly targeted in the pushback against "Save Girls Sports" activism. 

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Olivia Viola of Crean Lutheran competes in the girls high jump during the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School in Moorpark, Calif., on May 24, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

"I would say it’s unfair to everyone, I wouldn’t say it’s specific to Christians, I would say it’s unfair to all women who have to compete against [trans athletes]. But what I do think is unfair is pegging Christians as the bad guys or the bigots for not wanting a male in our spaces," she said.

This year, she can also vote for the first time to do something about it.

With the state’s gubernatorial election coming up this year, and the issue of protecting girls’ sports being at the top of Viola’s issue, Viola is planning to vote for Sheriff Chad Bianco. 

"He’s shown support for us, like, there’s been not very many people who are willing to make a public stance on it, and he’s shown very strong support for us