Canada is gearing up for its second match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, facing Ireland Wednesday with transgender nonbinary trailblazer Quinn expected back on the pitch. Last week, Quinn made history by playing in the team’s opener against Nigeria, without even scoring a goal; They are the first out trans nonbinary player to compete in soccer’s international championship.

Ten thousand miles away in Monaco, trans nonbinary sprinter Nikki Hiltz set a new U.S. national record on Friday that has stood for nearly 40 years. Although they finished in sixth place, the Aptos, Calif., native ran the mile in four minutes, 16.35 seconds, breaking the mark of 4:16.71, set in 1985 by Mary Slaney. 

These two trans nonbinary stars are being celebrated in each of their sports. Earlier this month, Hiltz, 28, became the first out trans nonbinary athlete to win a USA Track and Field national title, as the Los Angeles Blade reported. Part of the joy that came with the win was having the TV commentators get their pronouns right, as they shared on Instagram. 

After setting the record in Monaco, Hiltz wrote on Instagram: “There’s a lot of things I could probably attribute my recent successes to, but I think the most powerful tool I have is my joy,” they wrote. “Queer people can thrive when we make a space for them, love them and embrace them for who they are.”

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A post shared by Nikki Hiltz (@nikkihiltz)

Quinn, 27, shared a post on Instagram about their part in a new corporate initiative from GE Appliances, “See Them, Be Them.” 

“I remember some of my favorite memories growing up were the opportunities I had to see my role models playing on the world stage and I’m so excited to be experiencing the other side of that now,” they captioned the post, which shows them talking with young soccer players. “We need more opportunities for girl and gender diverse soccer players to see their future in the sport.” 

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A post shared by Quinn (@thequinny5)

Fans of Quinn and Hiltz have added comments full of accolades, many sharing that their successes brought them to tears. “So much kudos for the incredible visibility you’re creating,” said a fan of Quinn’s. Another fan wrote to Hiltz, “You are such an inspiration for queer runners. Thank you for everything you do!” 

But of course, history for trans athletes is not made without detractors adding their angry voices, too. 

Quinn’s social media is especially targeted by negative commenters misgendering them and wrongly presuming they transitioned from male to female. On Monday, a politician in Nigeria posted what used to be called a tweet on the X platform, accusing Canada of cheating by having Quinn on its team. 

“Canada cheated in their [match] against Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s World Cup game by featuring this MAN that they called ‘transgender,’ giving them an obvious advantage,” wrote Babatunde Gbadamosi, who is a former gubernatorial candidate in Lagos state. 

“This game should be awarded to Nigeria along with all three points. Nigeria would have won that game EASILY if Canada did not have the advantage of an extra player. Our 11 women played against 12 Canadian women, because the man has to count as two women.” 

Gbadamosi is calling for Nigeria and all African nations to boycott the Women’s World Cup because of “men pretending to be women.” 

Other than Quinn, however, none of the nations taking part this year has an out trans or trans nonbinary athlete competing in the Women’s World Cup. 

There are reports that there are as many as 100 or more out LGBTQ competitors and coaches, including the USWNT’s Kristie Mewis, Kelley O’Hara and two-time champion Megan Rapinoe. Autostraddle called this “the most openly queer sporting event in history.”