Chris Mosier takes 2nd place at National Championship in North Carolina

Chris Mosier tore up the course at the U.S. Duathlon National Championship over the weekend in Cary, N.C. Mosier placed second in his 35-39 age group and finished 50th overall with a time of 02:40:27.

He also earned a spot on the 2018 Duathlon Long Course national team.

For the trans athlete, accomplishing this in North Carolina was particularly sweet.

“The best revenge is a life well lived,” he wrote on Instagram. “I raced the long course duathlon national championship today - in North Carolina - so after the race I took this photo, scars out, to celebrate being a transgender athlete and placing 2nd in my age group. My goal this year was to get on the podium at a National Championship race. The fact that it happened here is extra special.”

Mosier said he considered not competing out of protest.

“I had a choice of whether to compete. This is a once a year chance to make Team USA, and I did not want to miss my opportunity because of the scare tactics and culture of fear politicians are cultivating in the state. I wanted to attend in protest, and do well.”

We’re so glad he did! Having LGBT people participate and compete is a powerful protest in and of itself.

Moving the event or refusing to participate would be a much more appropriate protest for a so-called “ally.”