Two-time Olympian and gold medalist Monica Tranel joined “Forbes Newsroom” to discuss her background, and her campaign for a House Seat in Western Montana.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Speaking of your brand, you would be the first female Olympian to serve in Congress, if elected.
00:04And of course, for an Olympic year, the opening ceremony quite literally kicks off in about an hour.
00:12So how would you translate your experiences, especially as an athlete, if elected into the House?
00:16And what would be your main legislative priorities?
00:20Well, first of all, what an incredible moment, the opening ceremonies at Parade of Nations.
00:24In 1996, people sometimes remember Muhammad Ali was holding the torch,
00:30that really iconic image of him holding the torch and his arm was shaking.
00:34I was standing in the infield in Atlanta watching him.
00:38And that was just such a powerful connection.
00:42And being in that moment, being in the Olympic Village,
00:47living in that global experience is such a powerful,
00:51powerful connection across the globe of what humans are capable of,
00:56of, you know, humans being at their best.
00:59So for me, this is just a moment that we really need right now that cries out for this.
01:04Let's be Team USA. There's so much that we can do and we do it together.
01:09So what are my priorities regarding sports?
01:15I mean, I think that we definitely need to have more women participating in sports,
01:20and Title IX has given, it gave my generation of female athletes an incredible opportunity to play and participate.
01:28And the work that we did was carried on by the generation after me.
01:33So I think, you know, women need to be at the table.
01:36And that's what we've seen is when more people participate, America is better.
01:41And we see America at its best when we have people in the game, literally.
01:47Well, Republicans, this Congress especially, have made the inclusion of transgender athletes in women and girls sports a big issue.
01:54And they claim their bills are in defense of competitive fairness and in the interest and safety of girls and women.
02:00So as an Olympic athlete, what do you say to that?
02:03I say, you know, I don't need a whole bunch of white guys protecting me.
02:07I think that what, you know, they're saying is incredibly offensive.
02:11Like, oh, there, there, little girl, we're going to let you play.
02:15You know, we've been participating, we've been in sports, and, you know, we need to make sure that it's fair.
02:23The playing field absolutely has to be fair.
02:25We should not have boys competing against girls, period.
02:29I know that. I've been into Olympics, and I understand what fair competition means and is about.
02:35And I think it's, you know, just a lot of noise and culture wars because they can't win on their real issues.
02:43So they have to make up silly things that people don't even actually experience or care about.
02:48I have never once, not once, in Montana have I had one person come up to me and say, that's an issue that I care about and I need you to work on.
02:58Not one person has ever said that to me.
03:01You also mentioned Title IX. Do you agree with President Biden's Title IX reforms that will take effect in the fall?
03:08I think that the Title IX language is in, you know, it was written and intended to have more women participate and be at the conversation and to learn how to compete and to play and to have conflict.
03:23And I think that that inclusion is really important.
03:25It's necessary. And that's what I support.