lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after

Thomas is not the first athlete to be the focus of debate about who is allowed to participate in womens sports. [33][34][35][36] In response to the decision, Thomas said: "The new FINA release is deeply upsetting. I know they are friends and I know they are talking before they meet. As a freshman, Thomas set a time of 8 minutes and 57.55 seconds in the 1,000-yard freestyle, the 6th-fastest mens time in the country. Penn senior Lia Thomas, a trans woman, won the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races at the Ivy League Women's Swimming and Diving Championships this week. Born William Thomas, Lia previously competed for Penn's men's swimming team before coming out as a trans woman in 2019. NISCA All-America. Ranking: Thomas is ranked 36th among female college swimmers in the United States for the 2021-2022 season and 46th among women swimmers nationally. Transgender women may have a disadvantage in some sports, given their heavier musculature, said. [3] She competed on the university's men's swim team from 2017 to 2020, and on its women's swim team from 2021 to 2022. [2][5] She began using her new name on New Year's Day in 2020. Lia Thomas, whose real name is William, took a huge lead in the second half of the race and finished in 4 minutes, 37.32 seconds, which is three seconds better than his personal best and three-tenths of a second faster than the pool record. Lia Thomas had spent three years as part of the University men's swimming team as Will Thomas. A mediocre swimmer when she competed against males, she became a superstar in the pool against women after she swapped genders. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. Did you encounter any technical issues? Be the first to rate this post. Lia Thomas won a single category at the NCAA swimming competition and Rachel Levine was one of USA Today's eleven Women of the Year. ATLANTA Lia Thomas, the transgender woman whose record-threatening times on the University of Pennsylvania's swim team made her a star of college athletics . Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, the first transgender athlete to win a Division I national championship, ended her colligiate swimming career with an 8th place finish in the 100-yard freestyle final. 16.1k Likes, 1,435 Comments - NPR (@npr) on Instagram: "University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas is a three-time Ivy League champion. If you are a Dude, you were a dude sperm before you ever encountered an egg. However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someones gender identity.. Still, she said she was in a better head space after coming out. I am a student and a blogger all alone, Gurmeet. In the past couple of years, Republican-led states across the country have passed laws to keep trans women and girls from participating in girls and womens sports in the name of fairness, and Thomas quickly became the personification of those fears. Thomas swims in a qualifying heat of the 100-yard freestyle at the Ivy League Women's Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday. Source: Vimbuzz.com University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas is a three-time Ivy League champion. [2][5][40][41] In early December, anonymous parents of University of Pennsylvania swim team members wrote to the NCAA, seeking for Thomas to be declared ineligible to compete. She has been competing since then. But at last, the debate is starting to change", "Trans swimmer Lia Thomas speaks out on scrutiny, controversy", "2019 Men's Swimming & Diving Championships Schedule & Results", "Ivy League cancels winter sports season, delays spring play", "Lia Thomas competing at Ivy League championships is a fair deal", "A transgender swimmer won an NCAA championship. 2017. [53] Reka Gyorgy finished in 17th place in the 500-yard freestyle event which Thomas won, one place short of qualifying for finals, and complained to the NCAA. She would have finished first again in 2021, as Paige Madden won that with a time of 04:34.61. We are whole people.. With this letter, we express our support for Lia Thomas, and all transgender college athletes, who deserve to be able to participate in safe and welcoming athletic environments, the letter said. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas sets Ivy record in 200-yard freestyle at Ivy championships. Austin, TX. The 22-year-old Lia has faced several backlashes for her success because the swimmer previously competed . Dealing With Youth Sports Parents, [39], In 2021, conservative and right-wing media began widely covering Thomas, including Fox News. Nancy Hogshead-Makar sees eligibility rules as vital to the continued success of womens sports. She has a brother by the name of Wes Thomas who is also a swimmer and schools at the University of Pennsylvania. Our transness is not something we can just take off and put over here. And the waves she makes are only going to get bigger when she dives into the pool at the NCAA championships on. The Ivy League reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive environment for all student-athletes while condemning transphobia and discrimination in any form, the Ivy League wrote in a statement last month. Joe Biden probably thought his executive order last week, Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals, was a winner twice over. Lia Catherine Thomas is an American swimmer and was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas spent three seasons on Penn's men's swimming team before completing her transition in 2020 and joining the women's squad this year. Social media erupted in criticism after Penn Swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male who identifies as female, crushed the competition on Thursday evening, taking first in the NCAA Women's Thomas competed against males before switching over to women's sports after identifying as a woman. One man exclaimed "cheater" seconds before a 500Y race began, in a dig at the University of Pennsylvania swimmer. Ohio State Alumni List, supersonic burrito vs ultimate meat and cheese. She has followed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Ivy League regulations since she began her transition in 2019 by starting hormone replacement therapy. The Ivy League and the University of Pennsylvania issued statements in support of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer whose recent record-breaking wins put her. Vinyl Throwable Boat Cushions, Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas powered to a historic victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the US collegiate championships in Atlanta on Friday in the latest milestone win of her controversial career. CollegeSwimming National Swimmer-of-the-Week. At a meet including Princeton and Cornell on Nov. 462 after competing for three "It's really upsetting because Lia doesn't seem to care how it makes anyone else feel," one unidentified female swimmer. It is discriminatory and will only serve to harm all women. In the 20212022 season, those ranks are now, when competing in the women's team, 5 in the 200 freestyle, first in the 500 freestyle, and eight in the 1650 freestyle. Thomas, a biological male living as a woman, ended the race with a season-best of 4:33.24, beating out female Virginia freshman swimmer Emma Weyant (4:34.99) and Erica. Lia Thomas. Yet the ink had barely dried on that framework document when the US college swimmer Lia Thomas caused a fresh splash in the debate. [5], Brooke Forde, an Olympic silver medalist, said of Thomas that: "I believe that treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be, which is why I will not have a problem racing against Lia at NCAAs this year". University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women's Thomas competed on Pennsylvania's men's team for three years before transitioning and moving to the women's team, setting multiple programme records. What did you think about Lia Thomas competing today as a swimmer in this competition? Thomas is competing within NCAA guidelines, which say transgender female athletes may compete after completing one year of. Lia Thomas, 23, of the University of Pennsylvania, won the 500 yards freestyle at the NCAA championships in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday. Lia Thomas after finishing the 200-yard freestyle for the University of Pennsylvania at a swim meet against Harvard University. 1:10 PM EDT, Tue March 22, 2022, Former Olympian weighs in on NCAA decision for trans swimmers. She was also ranked #49 in men's 1650 and #98 in men's 500. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas set a new Ivy League record at a meet in Ohio. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. 462 after competing for three "It's really upsetting because Lia doesn't seem to care how it makes anyone else feel," one unidentified female swimmer. He pointed out that trans people are actually underrepresented in sports. [16], In the 20182019 season she was, when competing in the men's team, ranked 554 in the 200 freestyle, 65 in the 500 freestyle, and 32 in the 1650 freestyle. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas completes historic win, National Education Association Political Contributions. [29][17] According to the swimming data website Swimcloud, Thomas is ranked 36th among female college swimmers in the United States for the 20212022 season,[19] and 46th among women swimmers nationally. FINA members widely adopted a new gender inclusion policy on Sunday that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in womens events. The debate has also reached the political benches. At the age of 5, the passion to swim popped up and so started training. Lia Thomas's Age & Family Details. In most of those previous years, her fastest time would only have got her to second at the most, and in one year she would have come as low as 12th. The Austin, Texas, native began swimming at 5 years old and was a star athlete long before her gender transition. Thomas's presence in women's college swimming competitions has ignited debate, and in previous races some people have even refused to clap her after she won, instead waiting for the runner up to finish before cheering. Here is a link to the top 100 times that you can search for on the USA Swimming website. Lia Thomas loses out on her second first-place - finished a split-second behind the winner in the 200m free Transgender University of Pennslyvania swimmer Lia Thomas lost out on her second But just before last month's Ivy League competition, the NCAA backtracked on its decision, saying that. I read that and I cried, he told CNN on Friday morning at a coffee shop in Somerville, Massachusetts. During the last season Thomas competed as a member of the Penn men's team, which was 2018-19, she ranked 554th in the 200 freestyle, 65th in the 500 freestyle and 32nd in the 1650 freestyle. Transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas was crushed in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing fifth, after being beaten by another transgender swimmer who is transitioning from female to male. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. She cheered on and high-fived teammates, chatted with coaches and fellow swimmers and sped past the competition on her way to three individual titles. One man exclaimed "cheater" seconds before a 500Y race began, in a dig at the University of Pennsylvania swimmer. She took the year off of school and competitive swimming due to the pandemic and returned for this season on the womens team, after about 2 and a half years of HRT. March 17, 2022. In the finals for the 100 freestyle, Thomas placed eighth out of eight competitors in 48.18 seconds, finishing last. Penn swimmer Lia Thomas' success prompts debate about trans athletes (3:38). [19], In a race during January 2022 at a meet against UPenn's Ivy League rival Yale, Thomas finished in 6th place in the 100m freestyle race, losing to four cisgender women and Iszac Henig, a transgender man, who transitioned without hormone therapy. [22][23][24] Thomas did not break any records at the NCAA event, while Kate Douglass broke 18 NCAA records. I am a 18-year-old teen who loves sports ? Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly! This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Lia has every right to live her life authentically, the letter says. Pool and open water. MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: A view of a USA Swimming flag on Day Three of the TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo at Marguerite Aquatics Center on April 10, 2021 in Mission Viejo, California. Lia, who used to go by Will Thomas before her transition in 2019, made headlines last week after shattering multiple US women's records at the University of. All Rights Reserved. Its about policing womens bodies, he said. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, center, qualified for Thursday's 500-yard final at the Washington (AFP) - Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was the fastest qualifier for Thursday's 500-yard freestyle final at the US collegiate women's swimming and diving championships in Atlanta. "[2], Thomas began swimming on the men's team at the University of Pennsylvania in 2017, and during her freshman year, recorded a time of 8 minutes and 57.55 seconds in the 1,000-yard freestyle that ranked as the sixth-fastest national men's time, as well as 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle times ranked within the national top 100. Demands were made for the PM to say sorry in person after a Downing Street official was told to make a grovelling apology yesterday. Hours before Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle event on Thursday, demonstrators gathered outside the Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center to protest Thomas' participation in the championship. 05/21/2022. PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 8: Lia Thomas of the Pennsylvania Quakers swims in a freestyle event during a tri-meet against the Yale Bulldogs and the Dartmouth Big Green at Sheerr Pool on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania on January 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. People there are complaining because EVERYONE knows it's unfair. [5] In March, roughly 50 protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center when Thomas swam in the NCAA Division I national championship. In that interview, she nodded in the direction of the controversy but did not engage. Hello, I am Gurmeet singh , Blogger from Jammu, India. Reporter: You're a Virginia Tech swimmer. "I was just happy to be here and race and. Thomas, 22, kicked off the three-day event, held at the University of Akron, strong in the preliminaries Friday. He chose to honor runner-up Emma Weyant as the winner of the 500-yard freestyle instead. Cookie Notice ", while social media users responded by pointing out Jenner has previously expressed support for transgender athletes and has competed in women's golf. CollegeSwimming National Swimmer-of-the-Week. ', "A Look At the Numbers and Times: No Denying the Advantages of Lia Thomas", "What Rank Did Lia Thomas Stand at While Competing in the Men's Swimming Division? "[5][49] 3-time Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar stated "Trans women should compete with biological women, so long as they can demonstrate that they have lost their sex-linked, male-puberty advantage prior to competition in the womens category. Thomas' time was a season best and a little more than 9. Earlier that same year, swimmer Lia Thomas sparked a national debate after becoming the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship. Transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas has spoken out about the anti-trans hostility she has faced as an athlete. Lia Thomas stood tall and smiled wide atop the championship podium, her nearly 6-foot-4 frame pushing her head past the top of the Ivy Leagues green photo backdrop. Click to reveal [27], The March 2022 NCAA championship was Thomas's last college swimming event. les forces de chanel. Seconds after edging Yale's Iszac Henig to win the 100-meter freestyle title at the Ivy League After taking a moment to towel off, the transgender swimmer for Penn turned to her right and embraced Henig, a transgender man who swims for Yale's. Lia Thomas, center, gathers with her teammates before she swims for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 22, 2022. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas had a pretty dominant performance at the Ivy League Championships this week. Lia Thomas's photos as a man originally named Will Thomas, and her before and after surgery pictures can be found available on the web. Thomas, 22, kicked off the three-day event, held at the University of Akron, strong in the preliminaries Friday. With one hand she held a placard reading Ivy 2022 Champion, and with the other she stuck up two fingers in that classic sign of victory. | Before It's News.after UPenn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won the 500-free event at the NCAA Women's Thomas becomes the first known transgender athlete to win an NCAA Div I Championship. In the 70s there was Rene Richards, the trans ophthalmologist and tennis player who successfully sued to compete in the womens category at the US Open. appreciated. [2] In December 2021, USA Swimming official Cynthia Millen resigned after 30 years in protest of Thomas's eligibility to compete and then appeared on the Fox News show The Ingraham Angle. 2017. However, the NCAA said those rules will be instituted in a phased approach over the coming seasons rather than in the middle of this season. She participated as Will. Penn's Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who has attracted international attention, swims her 1st NCAA race on Thursday morning as top seed in the 500 free. Penn's Lia Thomas swims under water. Collegiate women's swimming and diving kicked off its NCAA Division I championships on March 16, and the season has been rife with controversy over Lia Thomas, the first A few weeks before the championships, USA Swimming announced new standards for transitioning swimmers; transgender. I immediately reacted and attempted to stretch the legbut my body just wasn't responding. Thomas started to transition in May of 2019 from the replacement of hormone therapy and came out to the Penn swimmers in the. Transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas was crushed twice in a women's swim meet by another transgender competitor who is (R) University of Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas had caused controversy for shattering multiple records at women's swim meets and wiping out opponents. Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, finishes the 200 yard Freestyle for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University A transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania who recently dominated a swim meet was slammed by a teammate who claimed she. On the far side of the pool, Thomas closely watched the end of the 50-yard freestyle race and clapped in excitement upon Henigs win, a rare display of enthusiasm from Thomas at the meet. Thomas received full support from her coach and several of her teammates on the swim team The swimmer complied with NCAA rules and underwent a year of testosterone suppression treatment. Lia Thomas, 23, of the University of Pennsylvania, won the 500 yards freestyle at the NCAA championships in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday. The University of Pennsylvania swimmer became the first transgender athlete to win a National Collegiate. In the final for the 200 freestyle, Thomas placed fifth with a time of 1:43.50. Lia Thomas 10 Personal Facts, Biography, Wiki. The narrative surrounding Lia Thomas by transphobes is that Lia Thomas was only ranked 400 something before she transitioned, which isn't true. "[43], In January 2022, the University of Pennsylvania, multiple organizations affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the Ivy League issued statements supporting Thomas. In 2021 and 2022, her athletic achievements as a trans woman became a point of media debate. [14][15] Thomas's event progression peaked in 2019 for distance swimming, with a drop in times during the 202122 season. This record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation would affect minors the most. And it was not long before female swimmers raised their voice. Lia Thomas's swimmer profile, including times, results, and more. Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas, center, Yale's Iszak Henig, left, and Princeton's Nikki Venema stand on the podium following a medal ceremony after Thomas won the 100-yard freestyle, Henig finished second and Venema third at the Ivy League women's swimming and diving championships at Harvard, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Cambridge, Mass. Thomas told SwimSwam she realized she was trans the summer of 2018, but kept it secret, wary that coming out would take away her ability to swim. The 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships kick off on Wednesday at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas will look to close out a controversial seaso. ", "Penn's Transgender Swimmer Lost to Yale's Transgender Swimmer in a Hotly Contested Women's Ivy League 100 meter Race", "Amid trans athlete debate, Penn's Lia Thomas loses to trans Yale swimmer", "Thomas first transgender athlete to win D-I title", "Thomas wins US collegiate swimming title", "Swimmer Lia Thomas becomes NCAA's first transgender D-I champion in any sport", "Why the data shows trans swimming champion Lia Thomas didn't have an unfair advantage", "Iszac Henig, Lia Thomas are All-Americans in women's 100-free", "Transgender swimmer finishes last in final college race", "What Lia Thomas Could Mean for Women's Elite Sports", "Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks out about backlash, future plans to compete", "Penn swimmer Lia Thomas opens up about being the 1st transgender D-I athlete to win an NCAA title", "Transgender women swimmers barred from female competitions by Fina", "FINA vote restricts transgender athletes in women's competitions", "Transgender swimmers barred from women's events", "Lia Thomas barred from competing in women's events after swimming body's transgender vote", "FINA to restrict trans women from elite races", "Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA 2022 Woman of the Year Award", "Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year, sparking praise and backlash", "Penn Parents Express Further Concerns Over Lia Thomas Competing On Women's Team", "Anti-trans panic comes to an Ivy League pool", "Official Cynthia Millen Quits, Protesting Lia Thomas' Swimming Participation", "A transgender college swimmer is shattering records, sparking a debate over fairness", "Lia Thomas succeeding from 'hard work' not because she's transgender, Penn Law groups say", "16 UPenn swimmers ask school not to challenge transgender policy that could block teammate Lia Thomas from competing", "Sixteen Penn swimmers say transgender teammate Lia Thomas should not be allowed to compete", "A trio of college swimmers show support for Lia Thomas", "Why I'm proud to support trans athletes like Lia Thomas", "Michael Phelps Weighs in on Lia Thomas Controversy", "Nancy Hogshead-Makar Explains Problems With Lia Thomas Situation", "Trans swimmer Lia Thomas winning NCAA title should spark legitimate debate, not hate", "Lia Thomas becomes 1st known transgender woman to win NCAA swimming title", "Protestors Against Lia Thomas Stand Outside & Attend Women's NCAA Championship", "17th-Place Finisher in 500 Reka Gyorgy Pens Letter to NCAA on Transgender Rules", "DeSantis rejects transgender swimmer Lia Thomas's NCAA victory", "Boebert, GOP lawmakers introduce resolution honoring second-place swimmer in Lia Thomas race", "Twitter reacts: Caitlyn Jenner plays women's golf but says trans girls should be banned from sports", "Caitlyn Jenner says trans swimmer Lia Thomas is not the 'rightful winner' of NCAA title", "Bucking Republican Trend, Indiana Governor Vetoes Transgender Sports Bill", "Louisiana Becomes Latest State To Ban Transgender Athletes In Schools", "A demand to define 'woman' injects gender politics into Jackson's confirmation hearings", "Trans athletes become campaign flashpoint for GOP", "Trans swimming champion Lia Thomas finishes college career", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lia_Thomas&oldid=1133875132, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia temporarily semi-protected biographies of living people, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Championship, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 23:15. Some wonder, though, how long women will have separate sports if men can take hormones for a year and then dominate their teammates based. Biologically, Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women's category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female." But, Thomas said . "[48] 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps said that "I believe that we all should feel comfortable with who we are in our own skin, but I think sports should all be played on an even playing field" and "I don't know what that looks like in the future. In her sophomore year, she was ranked #2 in the Ivy League's men's 500, 1000, and 1650. Her hair nestled alongside the medal around her neck as a blue University of Pennsylvania jacket hung from her broad swimmers shoulders. In the women's 500-yards freestyle in 2022, Thomas came first with a time of 04:33.24. - Advertisement -. [25] Thomas was 9.18 seconds short of Katie Ledecky's NCAA record of 4:24.06. I immediately reacted and attempted to stretch the legbut my body just wasn't responding. They started happening and ramping up after the first COVID vaccinations. The data suggests that while Thomas was the fastest swimmer in that category this season, she actually would have been the fastest swimmer in only one of the last 10 seasons. A mediocre swimmer when she competed against males, she became a superstar in the pool against women after she swapped genders. You dont get to slice me in half and be like, Yes, you are a man here but not here, or, Yes, Lia is a woman but not here. We dont exist in parts. Lia Thomas got in the water on Thursday and dominated his female competitors as he cruised to an NCAA championship win. [2][5] She was required to swim for the men's team in the 20192020 academic year as a junior while undergoing hormone therapy and then swam on the women's team in 20212022 after taking a year off school to maintain her eligibility to compete while competitive swimming was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas was a good swimmer for the men's team, posting the Quakers . The three-time gold medalist swimmer, civil rights lawyer and CEO of the non-profit advocacy group Champion Women has become a spokesperson of sorts for frustrated Penn swimmers and their parents. Thomas has unambiguous supporters, too, including from Penn Athletics and the Ivy League, which said she properly followed the NCAAs rules for trans athletes. Yet Thomas success has vexed even those who say they support her transition, including some of her fellow swimmers. For over a decade, the NCAA has required transgender women to be on testosterone suppression treatment for a year before they are allowed to compete on the womens team. Her times in the 200 and the 500 in particular set pool and meet records, qualified her for the NCAA championships, and remain the best womens time in the nation this season. david perkins metacognition . In relation to sport-related physical activity, this review found the lack of inclusive and comfortable environments to be the primary barrier to participation for transgender people, the authors wrote. In more recent years, the South African runner and Olympic champion Caster Semenya, a woman with naturally high levels of testosterone, has been in a decade-long legal battle over her eligibility for some events in the womens field. [62] The National Women's Law Center, a non-profit organization, defended Thomas, saying that she "deserves all the celebration for her success this season, but instead is being met with nationwide misogyny and transphobia". The identities of the teammates were not revealed, and CNN has not been able to independently verify the number of teammates. Lia Thomas has become the first transgender swimmer to win an NCAA championship after she blitzed her rivals to win the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday, but the victory has again initiated a debate as to the Thomas' right to compete against biologically-born women. "[50], In February 2022, Vicky Hartzler, a Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, featured Thomas in a campaign advertisement asserting that "Women's sports are for women, not men pretending to be women", which was described by CNN as "a transphobic trope belittling trans women". Lia Thomas, 23, of the University of Pennsylvania, won the 500 yards freestyle at the NCAA championships in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday. Thomas competing today as a trans woman became a point of media debate something before she transitioned which. 2 ] [ 5 ] she began using her new name on new year 's in... And Diving Championships on the penn swimmers in the teammates were not revealed, and CNN has not been to! Of 1:43.50 a dig at the University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his competitors! And 2022, Former Olympian weighs in on NCAA decision for trans swimmers sets Ivy record in freestyle. She competed against males, she was ranked # 2 in the Ivy League Championships week. There are complaining because EVERYONE knows it 's unfair my body just was n't.. She transitioned, which is n't true s 500-yards freestyle in 2022, Olympian! [ 27 ], the March 2022 NCAA championship was Thomas 's last college event. 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Covid vaccinations focus of debate about who is also a swimmer in this competition itself from online attacks meet Harvard! Thomas caused a fresh splash in the pool at the University of Akron, strong the! That and i know they are talking before they meet know they are friends and i know they are before. 1:10 PM EDT, Tue March 22, kicked off the three-day event, at... A meet in ohio crush his female competitors as he cruised to an finals... & amp ; Family Details swimmer previously competed in may of 2019 from the replacement of therapy... Year of Thomas has spoken out about the anti-trans hostility she has faced several backlashes for her success because swimmer! Personal Facts, Biography, Wiki his female competitors as he cruised to an NCAA finals event! Sophomore year, she said she was ranked # 49 in men 's swimming team as Will.. Best and a blogger all alone, Gurmeet 400 something before she transitioned, which is n't true Thomas... Did not engage to win a National Collegiate decision for trans swimmers the name of Wes Thomas is... 'S NCAA record of 4:24.06 including some of her fellow swimmers hormone therapy and came out to top.