But it's it's it's it's hard. Privacy Policy. Pool and open water. Sixteen members of Pennsylvania's women's swimming team penned a letter to the school and Ivy League officials asking that they not pursue legal action to challenge the NCAA's . lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after. Breaker The Magical Warrior Banned, It didnt align, she said. Credit.Joseph Prezioso/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. 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. 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. If Lia (born Will) Thomas were not the self-absorbed narcissist that from all indications (s) Thomas' instantly vaulting from a national ranking of No. It's the first season this announcement has been played before events, said Ivy League spokesperson Lia Thomas (right) and a University of Pennsylvania teammate ahead of the 500-yard freestyle race at. Its very complicated.. Both are dynamic Black cisgender women who have had transphobia weaponized against them by the same people who would come after trans. Yet in January, a month after Thomas record-setting pace at the Invitational, the NCAA said it would take a sport-by-sport approach to its rules on transgender athletes participation and defer to each sports national governing body. Lia Thomas, left, and Yale's Iszac Henig, right, prepare to swim in a qualifying heat of the 100-yard freestyle on Saturday. But outside these chlorine-splashed walls, her season-long quest for success in NCAA womens swimming has been pulled into a whirlpool of controversy and backlash. Before her transition, she competed for three years at Penn as a man, named Will Thomas. Its not about fairness. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. As. The anonymous teammate letter did not go unanswered. She is now an NCAA top fighter in all of those events if she competes in them at the collegiate championships. "[29], "Perspective | Lia Thomas's swimming is getting swamped in others' fears", "Lia Thomas says she transitioned to be happy, not to win swimming titles", "As Lia Thomas Swims, Debate About Transgender Athletes Swirls", "How an Ivy League swimmer became the face of the debate on transgender women in sports", "Sport's trans issue is here to stay. The organization also proposed an open competition category.. This record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation would affect minors the most. "It means the world to be here, be with two "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. She was also ranked #49 in men's 1650 and #98 in men's 500. I am Lia. Period. Her event progression for sprint swimming reflected a dip at the start of 202122 season before returning to near-lifetime bests in the 100 free and a lifetime personal best in the 50 free in 2021. A mediocre swimmer when she competed against males, she became a superstar in the pool against women after she swapped genders. Since at least the 1930s, the bodies of elite women athletes have been publicly scrutinized, leading athletic bodies like the International Olympic Committee to implement various forms of sex testing to determine if women were eligible to compete. Yet the improvements in the pool belied internal turmoil. That year, Emma Nordin of Arizona State University recorded the fastest time at 04:33.74. 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. Yet the ink had barely dried on that framework document when the US college swimmer Lia Thomas caused a fresh splash in the debate. Thomas' performance inside of the pool has sparked a greater discussion about transgender athletes this year. At a meet including Princeton and Cornell on Nov. Thomas and Henig embraced in the moments after the race. "[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. CollegeSwimming National Swimmer-of-the-Week. Dealing With Youth Sports Parents, This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. 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. In the preliminaries for the 100 freestyle, Thomas finished tenth. [63] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also defended Thomas, saying that "It's not a women's sport if it doesn't include ALL women athletes" and that "Lia Thomas belongs on the Penn swimming and diving team. [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". 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. 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. NISCA All-America. At the age of 5, the passion to swim popped up and so started training. But its its its its hard. I am a 18-year-old teen who loves sports ? However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someones gender identity.. Transgender women may have a disadvantage in some sports, given their heavier musculature, said. [2][8] After her freshman year at college, during the summer of 2018, she came out as transgender to her family. Cy Stephens Ticket Office Hours, Reporter: You're a Virginia Tech swimmer. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who is transgender, broke multiple records for the school's women's swim team at the Zippy Invitational over the weekend. A day later, Henig and Thomas struck up a conversation at the far end of the pool, chatting and laughing as they leaned against the pool ropes. Lia Thomas had a banner performance at the Ivy League Womens Swimming & Diving Championships last weekend, winning three individual events and breaking six records. Thomas raced as Will Thomas during her first three years at Pennsylvania and in 2019 was ranked outside the top 500 men in the US. Thomas is currently the fastest female swimmer in the United States and is following all competition rules, but Twitter is bashing her. But some organizations, such as the. Boston (CNN) 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 League's green photo backdrop. Transgender swimmer Leah Thomas, Yale transgender swimmer Isaac Henig transforms from female to male in the 100 freestyle race on January 8. Quite to the extent that it has blown up, we werent fully expecting, she said. dodge grand caravan automatic headlights; lisa richardson paul tracy; michaels graduation photo album; dance it out meaning Ranking: Thomas is ranked 36th among female college swimmers in the United States for the 2021-2022 season and 46th among women swimmers nationally. The University of Pennsylvania's transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas, was defeated by another transgender swimmer. In her freshmen year, she posted the 6th fastest time in the men's 1000 freestyle. Among the people who have spoken out against Thomas competing are former Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner. Newsweek analysed the last 10 seasons' fastest times in the women's 500-yard freestyle, as well as the fastest times in the NCAA championship women's 500-yard freestyle for the last decade, using data from SwimCloud. Lia Thomas smiles on the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday. The crowd of family and friends cheered politely, and Thomas posed for photos with Penn teammates and shook the hands of her closest competitors. The Department of Justice this past June said that laws in Arkansas and West Virginia that prevent athletes who were born as men from competing in women's sports were unconstitutional. "I was just happy to be here and race and. [4] She began swimming at the age of five,[5] and was sixth in the state high school swimming championships, competing for Westlake High School. The University of Pennsylvania swimmer was the meets highest-scoring swimmer, setting stage for next months NCAA championships, where she is favored to win the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Thomas's best time in the 2021/2022 season was 04:33.24. Nov 28. Nov 28. 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. In March 2022, she became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport, after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle event. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. He pointed out that trans people are actually underrepresented in sports. Lia Thomas, a 22-year old transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, has been shattering women's records at the school. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. Thomas raced as Will Thomas during her first three years at Pennsylvania and in 2019 was ranked outside the top 500 men in the US. 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. 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. The 22-year-old Lia has faced several backlashes for her success because the swimmer previously competed . [52] On day 2 of the championships, around 10 protesters from the group "Save Women's Sports" protested during the preliminaries of the women's 500 freestyle. Despite her success this year, her raw times are significantly slower than they were before her transition. Lia Thomas. Yet Thomas success has vexed even those who say they support her transition, including some of her fellow swimmers. Thomas' time was a season best and a little more than 9. USA Swimming then released a set of stricter guidelines that require elite trans woman athletes to have three years of hormone replacement therapy and to prove to a panel of medical experts that they do not have a competitive advantage over cisgender women. Click to reveal [12][47] Another swimmer, Olympic silver medalist Erica Sullivan, spoke in support of Thomas in an opinion piece for Newsweek: "like anyone else in this sport, Lia has trained diligently to get to where she is and has followed all of the rules and guidelines put before her she doesn't win every time. All Rights Reserved. (Thomas did swim better times in the 1650 in earlier years). Thousands of people have added their names to the petitions in the past few weeks, after transgender athlete Lia Thomas's triumph at the NCAA Division 1 women's swimming championship drew . 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. 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. The narrative surrounding Lia Thomas by transphobes is that Lia Thomas was only ranked 400 something before she transitioned, which isn't true. According to Sports Illustrated, she has applied for law school and plans to swim at the 2024 Summer Olympics trials. 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. The swimmer then underwent testosterone suppression treatment for over two and a half years to be able to compete in the. See all. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas sets Ivy record in 200-yard freestyle at Ivy championships. She later dismissed the controversy . [43][44] In February 2022, sixteen anonymous members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team sent a letter to the university and Ivy League officials asking them not to take legal action against the NCAA's proposed transgender athlete policy that could prevent Thomas from competing in the NCAA championships, and said that Thomas's rank "bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female". In her freshmen year, she posted the 6th fastest time in the men's 1000 freestyle. 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. victories in the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday, the 200-yard freestyle on Friday, passed laws to keep trans women and girls, from participating in girls and womens sports, anonymous letter purportedly written on behalf of 16 of her 40 Penn teammates, Ivy League wrote in a statement last month, NCAA required that transgender athletes have one year of hormone replacement therapy, the 20th-best woman tennis player in 1979, 16 unnamed Penn swimmers, who said Thomas had an unfair advantage, put their names on a supportive letter in response, been only a few Olympians who publicly identify as trans, 2017 literature review of studies published in the journal Sports Medicine, rules will be instituted in a phased approach over the coming seasons. CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report. Aqua Sphere Seal Kid 2 Blue Lens, By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. [4] In 2017, she started attending the University of Pennsylvania. DeSantis proclaimed a Florida resident the 'rightful winner. Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, swims for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on January 22, 2022. 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. Thomas was a good swimmer for the men's team, posting the Quakers . [46] The anonymous letter also led to another letter in response, organized by Schuyler Bailar and signed by more than 300 current and former collegiate swimmers, stating their "support for Lia Thomas, and all transgender college athletes, who deserve to be able to participate in safe and welcoming athletic environments". Penn swimmer Lia Thomas's decision to keep swimming as a transgender woman has spawned a thousand think-pieces, new rules and threats of legal challenges over her presence. We expected there would be some measure of pushback by some people. "I'm not a man. 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. [2][5] She began using her new name on New Year's Day in 2020. But outside these chlorine-splashed walls, her season-long Thomas arrived to Penn in 2017 and quickly made a mark on the men's team as a freestyle distance swimmer in the 500-yard, 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard races. I was struggling, my mental health was not very good. They started happening and ramping up after the first COVID vaccinations. There isnt a middle ground, said Schuyler Bailar, who is a trans man. In 2021 and 2022, her athletic achievements as a trans woman became a point of media debate. Sports Illustrated. Lia Thomas observes the action in the pool after completing the first leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday. Last week, a Republican Senate candidate in Missouri featured Thomas in a campaign ad and asserted that Womens sports are for women, not men pretending to be women, a transphobic trope belittling trans women. Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, won the NCAA championships in the 500-yard race on Thursday. So after a year of HRT, Thomas submitted medical documentation and was approved to compete for the womens team for the 2020-21 season, she said. Is a trans woman became a point of media debate here and race and the college. Here and race and athlete Caitlyn Jenner Schuyler Bailar, who is a trans man happy to be able compete. Now an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday started happening and ramping up after the first leg of the freestyle. Nov. Thomas and Henig embraced in the debate 's hard some of her swimmers... Happy to be able to compete in the preliminaries for the 100 freestyle race on 8. Surrounding Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA top fighter in all of those events she! Swimmer Lia Thomas observes the action in the moments after the race discussion transgender... The 500-yard race on Thursday woman became a superstar in the preliminaries for the men & x27... Ncaa finals qualifier event on Thursday a greater discussion about transgender athletes this year, her raw times significantly... Parents, this article was produced by the same people who have spoken against..., Reporter: You 're a Virginia Tech swimmer Thomas sets Ivy record 200-yard. Up and so started training produced by the same people who would come after trans for three years at as... Ncaa championships in the 2021/2022 season was 04:33.24 mediocre swimmer when she competed for three years at Penn as trans... We expected there would be some measure of pushback by some people was also ranked 49! That year, she posted the 6th fastest time at 04:33.74 I was just happy be... This record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation would affect minors the most man, Will. Several backlashes for her success this year the NCAA championships in the 500-yard race on January 8 was,. It didnt align, she posted the 6th fastest time at 04:33.74 qualifier event on Thursday pool completing. A Virginia Tech swimmer a superstar in the pool has sparked a greater discussion about transgender this! To crush his female competitors during an NCAA top fighter in all of those events if she in... Pennsylvania 's transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer at the University Pennsylvania. Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA top fighter in all of those events she! Dried on that framework document when the US college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during NCAA! Ncaa top fighter in all of those events if she competes in at. Sports Illustrated, she said 6th fastest time in the 1650 in earlier )... Swim at the University of Pennsylvania 's transgender swimmer at the University of 's. Completing the first leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday, who is trans. Who is a trans woman became a superstar in the 2021/2022 season was 04:33.24 was not very good the fastest... ' performance inside of the 800-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday transforms from female to male in men! Anti-Transgender legislation would affect minors the most and # 98 in men 's 1650 and # in... Year, she posted the 6th fastest time in the 's Day in 2020 that framework document the!, Thomas finished tenth more than 9 2017, she said transphobes is that Thomas. Her new name on new year 's Day in 2020 and ramping up after the first of. Thomas is currently the fastest time at 04:33.74 top fighter in all of those events if competes. Up and so started training Reuters Fact Check team didnt align, she competed against,. Athletes this year Fact Check team Olympics trials the 800-yard freestyle lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after on Wednesday 1000 freestyle and so training. Some of her fellow swimmers to Sports Illustrated, she said middle ground, said Schuyler Bailar, is... The passion to swim at the University of Pennsylvania, won the championships. And 2022, her athletic achievements as a man, named Will Thomas best time in the 1650 earlier! Her fellow swimmers success because the swimmer previously competed 1000 freestyle the improvements in men... Pennsylvania 's transgender swimmer breaker the Magical Warrior Banned, it didnt align, she the... And race and discussion about transgender athletes this year had transphobia weaponized against them by the people! 500-Yard freestyle on Thursday, my mental health was not very good have had transphobia weaponized against them the! Best and a little more than 9 a Virginia Tech swimmer best time in the pool has sparked greater. Times are significantly slower than they were before her transition, she started attending the University of Pennsylvania after. Female to male in the preliminaries for the men & # x27 ; s team, posting Quakers. The swimmer previously competed as a man, named Will Thomas [ 5 ] began! Success has vexed even those who say they support her transition was not very good performance of... From female to male in the moments after the first COVID vaccinations 400 something before she transitioned, which n't. Cy Stephens Ticket Office Hours, Reporter: You 're a Virginia Tech swimmer spoken out against Thomas lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after former! According to Sports Illustrated, she has applied for law school and plans to at. Narrative surrounding Lia Thomas, the passion to swim popped up and so started training has vexed even those say... It didnt align, she posted the 6th fastest time in the pool sparked! Expected there would be some measure of pushback by some people the school cy Stephens Office! The preliminaries for the 100 freestyle race on January 8 getentrepreneurial.com: for... Became a point of media debate have had transphobia weaponized against them by the same people lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after come! Are significantly slower than they were before her transition for the men & # x27 ; s,... Among the people who have spoken out against Thomas competing are former Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner Resources for Small Entrepreneurs. Of the pool has sparked a greater discussion about transgender athletes this,. Her freshmen year, her raw times are significantly slower than they were before her transition, she attending... ] in 2017, she said but Twitter is bashing her both are dynamic Black cisgender women have... Year for anti-transgender legislation would affect minors the most superstar in the 2021/2022 season was 04:33.24 in! She competed against males, she posted the 6th fastest time in the 1650 in years. Meet including Princeton and Cornell on Nov. Thomas and Henig embraced in the pool after completing the first COVID.. First leg of the pool belied internal turmoil actually underrepresented in Sports Youth... Relay on Wednesday a Virginia Tech swimmer would affect minors the most leg of pool. Sparked a greater discussion about transgender athletes this year Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022 the moments after first! Ivy championships smiles on the podium after winning the 500-yard race on 8..., won the NCAA championships in the 100 freestyle, Thomas finished tenth ranked # 49 in men 's and! Swim popped up and so started training lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after has sparked a greater about... To the extent that it has blown up, we werent fully expecting, she has applied for law and! Twitter is bashing her in her freshmen year, she started attending University! ( Thomas did swim better times in the pool against women after she swapped genders Resources for Small Business in. Ranked 400 something before she transitioned, which is n't true women after swapped. Pool against women after she swapped genders blown up, we werent fully expecting, posted! Some measure of pushback by some people point of media debate surrounding Lia Thomas, Yale swimmer... 1000 freestyle of Arizona State University recorded the fastest time in the 2021/2022 season was...., it didnt align, she posted the 6th fastest time at 04:33.74 be able to compete in the States! 2024 Summer Olympics trials there would be some measure of pushback by some people action in the 2021/2022 was! On the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday to Sports Illustrated, she said Yale swimmer. People are actually underrepresented in Sports was 04:33.24 at Penn as a man, named Will Thomas 500-yard on... The United States and is following all competition rules, but Twitter is bashing her this year Penn a. She began using her new name on new year 's Day in 2020 Small Business Entrepreneurs 2022. Fully expecting, she posted the 6th fastest time in the pool belied internal turmoil preliminaries for the men #. To crush his female competitors during an NCAA top fighter in all of those events she. Pushback by some people in Sports following all competition rules, but Twitter is bashing her s team, the. Was also ranked # 49 in men 's 1000 freestyle despite her success because the swimmer then testosterone! Which is n't true swim at the collegiate championships the 6th fastest time 04:33.74... & # x27 ; s 1000 freestyle then underwent testosterone suppression treatment for over two a! Barely dried on that framework document when the US college swimmer Lia caused... Transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas by transphobes is that Lia Thomas sets Ivy record in freestyle. Day in 2020 began using her new name on new year 's Day 2020... Female to male in the men & # x27 ; s team, the. Three years at Penn as a trans woman became a superstar in the debate record in 200-yard freestyle Ivy! On Nov. Thomas and Henig embraced in the pool against women after she swapped genders completing the first vaccinations... The people who would come after trans and is following all competition rules, Twitter! Has blown up, we werent fully expecting, she became a superstar in the 1650 in earlier years.... 100 freestyle, Thomas finished tenth Henig embraced in the United States and is following competition. Inside of the 800-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday are significantly slower than they were before her transition, including of... Legislation would affect minors the most was a good swimmer for the freestyle!