Réka György Blasts Spanberger for Withdrawing 14-0 Virginia Female Sports Rule
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Réka György Blasts Spanberger for Withdrawing 14-0 Virginia Female Sports Rule
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Summary
Hungarian Olympian Réka György said Abigail Spanberger’s administration "hurt" female athletes by pulling a Virginia regulation that would have barred biological males from female teams and women’s private spaces.
The proposal had advanced under Glenn Youngkin after György and two former Roanoke College swimmers filed a 2025 petition; the Board of Health then voted 14-0 and drew more than 2,300 public comments.
Spanberger’s administration withdrew the action on July 30 after a further comment period, citing a review of statutory authority; György said the move was not publicly highlighted and left her disappointed.
György tied her activism to the 2022 NCAA championships, where she finished 17th in the 500-yard freestyle—one place short of the final after Lia Thomas qualified and won the title.
Still living in Virginia, György said she plans to seek a conversation with Spanberger and argue that Title IX protections should extend to girls’ sports and women-only spaces.
Why did Virginia withdraw a proposed women's sports privacy rule despite a recent Supreme Court decision empowering states to enforce such restrictions?
What specific legal authority was missing that caused the sudden cancellation of a health regulation meant to protect female athletes' locker rooms?