Nov 28. I dont know what that looks like in the future. 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. 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. It was awkward and uncomfortable, she said, and her speed suffered as her muscles weakened from the hormone therapy. Lia Thomas, supported and criticized by the swimming world. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas completes historic win Apparently, there were multiple fans who cheered on Thomas as. She recently rose to prominence after destroying the majority of female university records. She recently rose to prominence after destroying the majority of female university records. In other words, transgender athletes who have experienced the enduring competitive advantages of a male puberty flooded with testosterone, such as greater muscle mass, lung capacity and height, will no longer have an unfair advantage in womens competitions. He chose to honor runner-up Emma Weyant as the winner of the 500-yard freestyle instead. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. Pool and open water. [42] In a January 10, 2022, article, The Washington Post wrote, "Thomas has shattered school records and has posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two events this season. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 05/21/2022. Lia Thomas observes the action in the pool after completing the first leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday. Swimming star Michael Phelps, too, expressed his hesitations on the topic in an interview with CNN in January. 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. [4][5][11] Thomas has followed all of the gender-related policies to be eligible to compete as a woman in NCAA swimming. Felt Lined Silverware Drawer Inserts, The swimmer then underwent testosterone suppression treatment for over two and a half years to be able to compete in the. Thomas' time was a season best and a little more than 9. ", while social media users responded by pointing out Jenner has previously expressed support for transgender athletes and has competed in women's golf. Lia Thomas is not the first trans swimmer in the N.C.A.A., but her victories have put her at the center of a debate about trans athletes. 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. 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. Your IP: I am a 18-year-old teen who loves sports ? USA Swimming has released a new policy for female competitors as it addresses the furor over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, according to Sky News host Peta. 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. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas completes historic win, National Education Association Political Contributions. She was also ranked #49 in men's 1650 and #98 in men's 500. I want trans people to be loved and accepted and be productive in society and be their true selves, she added. She has some people hearing the "Jaws" theme in their head because she's trans and swims fast. Hungry Shark Arena Ubisoft, Lia Thomas, a 22-year old transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, has been shattering women's records at the school. Lia Thomas, now competing for the Penn women's team after previously swimming for the men's team And Thomas is even rising in the all-time rankings: her 200 free performance makes her the Thomas is not the first collegiate swimmer to come out as transgender and make the switch. Nancy Hogshead-Makar sees eligibility rules as vital to the continued success of womens sports. The only other season she would have gotten the fastest time was in 2019 to 2020. Her times in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-yard freestyle were among the top 100 in the country. Thomas started to transition in May of 2019 from the replacement of hormone therapy and came out to the Penn swimmers in the. Rankings. In addition, over 300 current and former swimmers, collegiate and elite, signed their names to an open letter defending her ability to compete. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Beginning in 2021, she became part of the public debate about transgender women in sports. Lia Thomas smiles on the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday. 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. She'll probably be a favorite at the NCAA championships in March, even as people inside and outside the sport debate her place on the pool deck. Pool and open water. Before her transition, she competed for three years at Penn as a man, named Will Thomas. 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 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. She would have finished first again in 2021, as Paige Madden won that with a time of 04:34.61. 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. When Thomas first decided to come out, she reached out to Bailar on Instagram for guidance about how to move forward with her swimming career, Bailar said. Lia Thomas 10 Personal Facts, Biography, Wiki. One spectator directly called out transgender swimmer Lia Thomas before he crushed his female competitors. "[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. 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. 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 fastest time that year was from Katie Ladecky from Stanford University, who finished at 04:24.06, nearly 10 seconds faster than Thomas in the most recent season. They have remained in contact, though he declined to go into detail on their conversations. Another of Thomas' teammates reportedly told Outkick that other swimmers on the UPenn team are often upset and cry, knowing Thomas will beat them. Some of these examples have become particularly high-profile. Credit.Joseph Prezioso/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. Lia Thomas's swimmer profile, including times, results, and more. With one. Dealing With Youth Sports Parents, Ohio State Alumni List, supersonic burrito vs ultimate meat and cheese. [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. CollegeSwimming National Swimmer-of-the-Week. By Alan Blinder. Thomas' time was a season best and a little more than 9. "I was just happy to be here and race and. [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. 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. 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. 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. Swimming next to her in lane 5, Stanford's Brooke Forde stayed within half a. Fierce Debate In the 2016-2017 season, Thomas's 2021-2022 time would have ranked her 12th. She was born a boy and underwent gender reassignment surgery to change her gender. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. Lia Thomas, a 22-year old transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, has been shattering women's records at the school. 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. The new rule threatened to make Thomas ineligible to compete at NCAA championships in March. Reporter: You're a Virginia Tech swimmer. Yet the improvements in the pool belied internal turmoil. The University of Pennsylvania's. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas had a pretty dominant performance at the Ivy League Championships this week. [33][34][35][36] In response to the decision, Thomas said: "The new FINA release is deeply upsetting. [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. British Olympic swimmer and silver medallist Sharron Davies also argued Thomas shouldn't be allowed to compete in female swimming. Thomas faced not only elite Division I female swimmers but also two Olympic female swimmers. In the finals for the 100 freestyle, Thomas placed eighth out of eight competitors in 48.18 seconds, finishing last. Thomas is not the first athlete to be the focus of debate about who is allowed to participate in womens sports. [2] She graduated in 2022 and plans to attend law school, pursuing a career as a civil rights attorney. Swimming, from beginners to recreational to competitive swimming. The fastest time that year was from Katie. Looking at the last 10 NCAA free title races, in the 500-yard freestyle category, Thomas would have only come first in two of those races over the last 10 years. Sports Illustrated. Lia Thomas's swimmer profile, including times, results, and more. Jenner has claimed that Thomas wasn't the rightful winner of the 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA college championships. Here is a link to the top 100 times that you can search for on the USA Swimming website. 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. Thomas first launched into the public eye with a stunning performance at the Zippy Invitational in Ohio in December. 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. "[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. 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. She is now an NCAA top fighter in all of those events if she competes in them at the collegiate championships. Thomas, who previously swam for the men's team before transitioning to female in 2019 and sparking a national debate, finished the race with a time of 4:33.24, more than a full second ahead of. Lia Thomas of the Pennsylvania Quakers shakes hands with a competitor. CollegeSwimming National Swimmer-of-the-Week. That year, Emma Nordin of Arizona State University recorded the fastest time at 04:33.74. I immediately reacted and attempted to stretch the legbut my body just wasn't responding. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas reportedly made an arrogant comment about how "easy" one of her races against female opposition was. Last month she wrote the letter, purportedly on behalf of 16 unnamed Penn swimmers, who said Thomas had an unfair advantage. "I'm not a man. University of Pennsylvania. [5] On the men's swim team in 20182019, Thomas finished second in the men's 500, 1,000, and 1,650-yard freestyle at the Ivy League championships as a sophomore in 2019. [14][15] Thomas's event progression peaked in 2019 for distance swimming, with a drop in times during the 202122 season. What did you think about Lia Thomas competing today as a swimmer in this competition? Some wonder, though, how long women will have separate sports if men can take hormones for a year and then dominate their teammates based. If you are a Dude, you were a dude sperm before you ever encountered an egg. And it was not long before female swimmers raised their voice. [7], Towards the end of high school, Thomas began to question her gender identity. Source: Vimbuzz.com "I will not stop bringing these actual facts into the light or be bullied into silence. 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. electrolysis certification pennsylvania. [2][5] She began using her new name on New Year's Day in 2020. See all. 2. Some wonder, though, how long women will have separate sports if men can take hormones for a year and then dominate their teammates based. No votes so far! 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. She fell in national rankings once she started HRT in her junior year. She has followed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Ivy League regulations since she began her transition in 2019 by starting hormone replacement therapy. An anonymous letter purportedly written on behalf of 16 of her 40 Penn teammates earlier this month criticized what they saw as her unfair advantage, saying they supported her gender transition out of the pool but not necessarily in it. "[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". "I've received several threats to myself and my work because I present evidence based facts on the unfairness of male inclusion in women's sport," Davies said. Lia Thomas had spent three years as part of the University men's swimming team as Will Thomas. We expected there would be some measure of pushback by some people. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Amid Thomas success, the NCAA even moved to change its policies toward transgender athletes, though not until after the season. 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. Because there are so few elite trans athletes, there is very little hard data comparing performance between transgender athletes and cisgender athletes. Lia has every right to live her life authentically, the letter says. Thomas, who previously swam for the men's team before transitioning to female in 2019 and sparking a national debate, finished the race with a time of 4:33.24, more than a full second ahead of. A mediocre swimmer when she competed against males, she became a superstar in the pool against women after she swapped genders. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas is a three-time Ivy League champion. Lia Thomas. The NCAA allows trans men to compete on the womens team so long as they have not had hormone therapy. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas received some hostility from the crowd after she became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history by winning the women's 500-yard freestyle. [2][5] On March 23, after Indiana governor Eric Holcomb vetoed a legislative ban on the participation of transgender girls in school sports for girls, The New York Times wrote, "Sports participation by transgender girls and women has become an increasingly divisive topic among political leaders and sports sanctioning groups, which have struggled with the issue in a way that respects transgender athletes and addresses concerns some critics have raised about competitive fairness" and reported that Utah governor Spencer Cox, at a press conference before his veto of similar legislation, stated to the transgender community, "We care about you. Conservative Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also said that Thomas wasn't the rightful winner. 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. Choose Color style Lia Thomas is a transsexual woman. [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 letter also indicated they believe sex should be considered separately from gender identity during competition. There isnt a middle ground, said Schuyler Bailar, who is a trans man. 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. Thomas, 22, kicked off the three-day event, held at the University of Akron, strong in the preliminaries Friday. One spectator spoke out as transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas prepared to crush his female competitors during an NCAA finals qualifier event on Thursday. As. [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. Thomas has not spoken publicly since an interview with the SwimSwam podcast in December. Then some people decided that she was winning too much. Be the first to rate this post. 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. She later dismissed the controversy . 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