Apayauq Reitan

Apayauq was born in c. 1997[5] in Trondheim, Norway. She often spent time travelling between the communities of Narjordet and Kaktovik, Alaska.[6] She started mushing at age four at her family's tourism kennel, Alaskan Husky Tours.[7][1] She changed her name to remove her Norwegian/English boy name after she had come out to her family. After doing so, she received her tavluġun, traditional Iñupiaq chin tattoo.[6] She came out publicly on March 8, 2021, International Women's Day.[6]

Apayauq started organized mushing at age 15, when she ran the Femund Jr. 220km, later running it at age 16.[1] Then, in 2017, she ran some more races, including the Kobuk 440. Her dad, Ketil Reitan, finished the Iditarod, after which Apayauq took the family's dogs back home.[1]

Apayauq became the first openly trans woman to compete in the Iditarod in 2022.[2][6] She is the second openly transgender athlete to compete in the race, following Quince Mountain, a trans man who competed in 2020.[8] She won the red lantern in 37th place in 13 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes, and 13 seconds.[1] During the Iditarod, Apayauq criticized the Alaskan school sports ban on transgender girls.[9] Julie Smyth, another Iñupiaq woman, was also opposed to the ban, as Iñupiaq culture was more accepting of transgender identities, stating it is "common in many communities to be transgender".[9]