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AUGUST 17, 2026 NEWS RELEASE

It Was Never Totally About Transgender Athletes

MADISON, Wis., August 17, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — In 2003, 4 WINDS USA President Steve McConkey was the only person publicly fighting against the International Olympic Committee's transgender policies. He did this consistently for 19 years and then others started to speak up in 2022.

After the IOC passed their transgender policies, state school associations throughout the United States used the IOC's policies to pass their transgender policies.

The IOC passed their policies to help further the LGBTQ agenda into schools throughout the world, mainly in the United States.

4 WINDS USA President Steve McConkey ministers to Olympic athletes and stands up for Christian athletes. “The IOC did not care about transgender athletes only,” states McConkey. “It was a smokescreen to push LGBTQ indoctrination into schools. The IOC was used as a vehicle for this radical agenda. We need to keep fighting against transgender athletes, but the greater problem goes beyond transgender athletes.”

Currently, the IOC has stopped transgender athletes under the leadership of newly elected President Kristy Coventry. They returned to common sense, realizing that at puberty athletes are set for life in regards to athletic potential. However, the damage the IOC created has already been done.

The IOC and the United Nations work together to further various UN agendas. Currently, the UN is trying to implement Agenda 2030, which includes radical and globalist causes.

As he ministers to Olympic athletes, Steve stands up worldwide for Christian athletes. For example, he fights against atheists trying to stop Christian activity in sports and opposes those attacking Christian athletes.

• In 2003, Steve was the only person publicly standing against the International Olympic Committee's transgender policy. He called various IOC members and was in contact with the USA Olympic Committee. From there, the transgender sports movement spread to schools and other sports organizations throughout the world. The lone voice consistently for 19 years until 2022, Steve has fought this agenda every step of the way. Finally in 2022, more people started to speak up.

• In 2019, Steve asked Rasmussen to do a poll on transgender athletes. It was the first poll that was done on the subject in the United States. At that time, only 28% of Americans were for transgender athletes.

• In March 2022, Steve went to Washington DC to talk to elected officials. He asked them to go beyond stopping transgender athletes and include the dangers of transgender hormones and surgeries on minors in future bills, charging those who promote this. Later, Steve visited forty-five elected officials at the Wisconsin Capitol and went to other state capitals giving them the same message.

• In March 2026, the International Olympic Committee banned transgender athletes and will require female athletes to take a once in a lifetime chromosome test that is done by a cheek swab. Currently, twenty-seven states have stopped transgender athletes. Also, the Supreme Court has ruled against them.

Steve McConkey is the President of 4 WINDS USA, an organization working with world-class track and field athletes. Starting in 1981, Steve and Liz have worked through eleven Olympic cycles. Steve shares the gospel, encourages Christians, and stands up for athletes. From 1982 through 1992, he was a USA National Track and Field Club Coach for three teams. Ministry centers have been in Eugene (OR), Dallas-Fort Worth (TX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN), and Madison (WI). Over the years, Steve had hundreds of worldwide radio, article, and TV interviews. He graduated with honors from Western Kentucky University (Master of Public Health), Minnesota State University (BS-Community Health), and Webster High School (WI). Steve was born in Des Moines (IA) and moved to NW Wisconsin after the sixth grade. Also, he gives training advice to distance runners.