OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has stirred significant controversy by switching from the men’s swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania after competing for three years in order to dominate the women’s division.
Lia, formerly William, went on to win a national championship by defeating every female in NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming event.
Now UPenn has nominated Thomas for the NCAA “Woman of the Year” award.
The award was established in 1991 to “recognizes female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers.”
According to an announcement from the NCAA, the University of Pennsylvania nominated the transgender athlete for the award, which recognizes female student-athletes.
Critics argue that Lia Thomas possesses an obvious unfair advantage over female competitors as a result of going through male puberty.
Even though Lia has undergone “testosterone suppression” for one year prior to joining the women’s team, as the NCAA policy requires, this does not reverse the impact of nearly 20 years of presumably normal male testosterone levels. The NCAA’s policy fails to address this problem.
Thomas swam for three years as a male at Penn before changing gender identity. Thomas still has male genital and uses the women’s locker room, according to teammates who have spoken out in frustration over the situation.
Nationally televised cardiothoracic surgeon and university professor Dr. Oz has spoken out about the issue.
Michael Phelps, who is the decorated Olympian of all time, expressed concerns about transgender swimmers competing against athletes with a different biological gender.
The female teammates of Lia have also spoken out in anger about the unfairness of the situation.
The female swimmer asked to remain anonymous for fear of liberals attacking her and destroying her life. “Pretty much everyone individually has spoken to our coaches about not liking this,” the teammate said.
Riley Gaines, who swims for the University of Kentucky, tied with Lia Thomas for fifth place at one of the races in the NCAA championships.
Gaines says a majority of females disagree with Thomas’ participation in female sports.
“The majority of us female athletes, or females in general, really, are not okay with this, and they’re not okay with the trajectory of this and how this is going and how it could end up in a few years,” Gaines said.
