NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The female female Stephanie Turner thought that she “ruined her life” when she chose to kneel to protest a transgender competitor at a fencing event in the United States at the end of March.
But after almost four months, an audience of the congress on the subject and, now, a revision of the transgender participation policy of the American team which surfaced on Tuesday, Turner says that it would “absolutely” start all over again.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) updated its policies on Tuesday to suggest that it will comply with President Donald Trump’s executive decree away from female sports. “
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
“It caused so much embarrassment to my life personally, and it caused me so many emotional troubles that I am so happy that it is finished and that there are many women and girls who are very appreciated by this victory,” Turner told PK Press Club Digital.
“I just have to say thank you [to Trump]. I voted for him, and it was a huge reason why I voted for him. And to see him pass for me and for women and girls so early in his administration, it’s just, I mean, it’s a huge victory. I have never seen the policy working in my favor immediately, effectively, effectively. … I am so grateful for this decree. “”
However, Turner said that the change taking as long as he did was “disappointing” for her.
For Turner, a longtime former Democrat from Maryland, Trump in 2024 was the first Republican for which she voted. She says she “shivers” to think where she would be if she and other former Democrats did not vote for Trump in 2024.
Who is Stephanie Turner? Fencer of women who knelt to protest against the trans adversary and inflamed the global consciousness
However, Turner and his support group call for other USOPC measures after the recent change in policy.
The independent council on female sports (icons), the defense group which represents Turner, published on Tuesday a statement calling for compulsory sexual screening for all female athletes in order to effectively enforce Trump’s executive order.
“The next critical step is to implement sexual screening protocols.
“The United States has a chance to be a leader in defense of the fair treatment of women around the world.”
Turner also requests mandatory tests.
“The application of this policy will be essential,” said Turner. Turner highlighted the karyotyping, a test that examines chromosomes in a cell sample, as a necessary form of test.
“You can no longer count on the documentation. You cannot count on driving licenses, you cannot count on birth certificates, because they can all be edited,” said Turner.
Turner helped ignite an avalanche of counterpoup against one of the main USOPC guidelines, USA Escare, when she published images of her viral demonstration in April.
Turner was disqualified and received a black card for his refusal to face the Trans opponent, which caused a backlash against American fences.
The controversy was then the subject of a federal hearing on May 7. Turner testified against the president of American fencing Damien Lehfeldt to the Government Department of Effectiveness (DOGE) The audience of the subcommittee, “Play disloyal: keep men out of female sports”.
In early June, the United States board of directors voted to modify its previous policy Prioritized states With LGBTQ convivial laws for host sites for competitions and a policy that may have prevented the national anthem during certain events. These two policies were widely criticized in the aftermath of Turner’s viral protest.
Then, the following week, two fencing directors in the United States brought a legal action against the other six largest members, alleging that Lehfeldt made false declarations at the Congress at the hearing of May 7. The complainants, Andrey Geva and Abdel Salem, each have long links with sport and organization, previously leading or competition for the American team.
This week, USA Fencing has become one of the first organizations to make an official announcement which referred to the new USOPC policy.
On July 18, 2025, the USOPC published new athlete security guidelines that all national guidelines must follow within the framework of a federal decree issued by the president earlier this year.
For Turner, her involvement in the issue began in her original state in Maryland on the last weekend in March, when she was twinned against the transgender opponent, Redmond Sullivan, at the Cherry Blossom Open.
When Turner knelt before Sullivan, she said that she said to Sullivan: “I have a lot of love and respect for you, but I will not close you.”
Now, while she is thinking about the question, Turner has a message she would give to Sullivan after Tuesday news.
“I hope he understands that what he did was cheating, and it was not just for women and girls. I also want him to know that I do not hate him personally. He was never him and me. It was really the problem and the politics in question,” said Turner.
“And if I am angry with someone, I am angry with their catalysts and the people who allowed this policy to continue so long.”
