University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first trans woman athlete to win the NCAA Division National Championship last week, finishing at four minutes and 33.24 seconds on the 500-yard freestyle last Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia.
Thomas beat second place winner Emma Weyant, from the University of Virginia, by 1.75 seconds and Katie Ledekcy’s record of 4:24.06 by nearly nine seconds.
When each participant was introduced to the fans, they screamed in adoration and celebration of the women. Though, Thomas was met with a cold quietness when her name was announced. In fact, ESPN reported that the “Save the Women’s Sports” founder Beth Stelzer hung a banner with the organization’s phrase during the race.
Thomas, like most winners, didn’t allow the unconscionable verbiage and vicious schadenfreude to dissolve her confidence from striving toward her winning victory.
“I try to ignore everything as much as I can,” Thomas says after her victory. “I just try to focus on my swimming and do what I need to do to get ready for my race and just try to block out everything else.”
Around that same time, a conservative group filed a Title IX complaint, implying that Thomas’ and other trans athletes’ participation in sports of their correct gender is breaking the law.
“The future of women’s sports and the equal rights of female athletes are being infringed,” Penny Nance, president and chief executive of Concerned Women for America (CWA), retorts in response to Thomas’ participation in women’s sports.
Despite the opposition that Thomas faced, she remained grateful to compete and maintained a level head. Though, Thomas declined to attend the mandatory news conference afterward. At this point, who can blame her?
“It means the world to be here,” Thomas mentions to Elizabeth Beisel after her glorious win.
Thomas is the only second out, trans swimmer and had already cemented her notable swimming reputation before transitioning. The remarkable swimmer began her transition approximately two years ago. Even though Thomas is more than qualified to compete and had support from her university, critics say Thomas’ participation in women’s sports an act of “displacing” (cisgender) women.
ESPN‘s Katie Barnes reported responses from protestors:
“We’re not going to stand by and let women be displaced,” Annabelle Rutledge, the national director for Young Women for America, tells Barnes. “We must fight for their rights.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been increasingly vocal about his anti-LGBTQ stances as of late, was the most recent to speak out, saying he refused to acknowledge Thomas’ historic win, misgendering her on Twitter and declaring Emma Weyant the winner instead.
In defiance of the anti-trans rhetoric among some spectators, Georgia Tech Campus is in full support of the Pennsylvania swimmer and other trans athletes.
“They are bringing off-campus hate onto our campus,” Georgia Tech Grad Pride President Naiki Kaffezakis tells Barnes, in reference to the protestors.
Though, Thomas still received a lot of support. Lexi Cuomo, a competitor of the 200 freestyle relay, came to Thomas’ defense in the midst of the transphobic debates:
“We need to look at it as we’re all competitors right now,” Cuomo says. “We’re focused on ourselves and our team. Our first and foremost goal is to win a national title.”
Schuyler Bailar, the first known transgender man to compete on a Division I men’s team, tells ESPN, “It’s a symbol of Lia’s resilience. The fact that she’s able to show up here, despite protesters outside, people shouting and booing her, I think it’s a testament to her resiliency. And it’s also a symbol that we can both be who we are and do what we love.”
