Two years ago, a Maine schoolboy took fifth place in a state pole vaulting competition. In February this year, the same athlete clinched the gold, but this time in the girls’ competition.

The teenager who now identifies as female vaulted 10ft 6in – over six inches more than the girl who came in second place.

The triumph has ignited a national row which reached the White House thanks to Laurel Libby, the Maine Republican state representative.

She posted the two podium pictures showing the pole vaulter in the male and female contests side by side on Facebook, prompting uproar from Democrats who control the Maine legislature.

They demanded she remove the photographs and suspended her until she apologised for posting an image of a minor – who, according to majority leader Ryan Fecteau – had been thrust into “the middle of a political firestorm”.

The 43-year-old mother of five has no intention of doing so.

“I think we have, in some ways, become ground zero for the fight to bring fairness and a level playing field to women’s sports,” she told The Telegraph.