UPenn Parents Demand NCAA Restrict Dominating Transgender Swimmer From Competing

By Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil - http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/rio-2016/foto/2016-08/natacao-rio-2016, CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50664687

The parents of swimmers competing on the University of Pennsylvania women’s team are calling for the NCAA to prevent record breaking transgender swimmer Lia Thomas from competing alongside females. 

“At stake here is the integrity of women’s sports,” ten parents wrote in a letter to the NCAA.  “The precedent being set – one in which women do not have a protected and equitable space to compete – is a direct threat to female athletes in every sport.”

Thomas competed on the university’s men’s swim team for three years before coming out in 2019 and transitioning to the women’s team for the 2021-2022 season. 

Since making the switch to the women’s sport, Thomas has been crushing the competition. She recently decimated her competitors in the 1650 by 38 seconds, beat them in the 500 Free by 12 seconds, and won the 200 Free by 7 seconds.

“Swimming against Lia Thomas was intimidating,” said an anonymous swimmer from Niagara University. “It was hard going into a race knowing there was no way I was going to get first. I knew I could drop my time but I also knew there was no way I would physically be able to beat her in the race or even catch up to her.”

An anonymous women’s swimmer on the UPenn team remarked that, “Pretty much everyone individually has spoken to our coaches about not liking this. Our coach just really likes winning. He’s like most coaches. I think secretly everyone just knows it’s the wrong thing to do.” 

Now their parents are getting involved. What are the boundaries? How is this in line with the NCAA’s commitment to providing a fair environment for student-athletes?” they wrote in the letter also addressed to UPenn. “As the governing body, it is unfair and irresponsible to leave the onus on Lia, Lia’s teammates, Lia’s coaches, UPenn athletics and the Ivy League.”    

The university reportedly does not care about their concerns. “Please know that we fully support all our swimming student-athletes and want to help our community navigate Lia’s success in the pool this winter,” they wrote in response to the parents. 

“Penn Athletics is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our student-athletes, coaches and staff and we hold true to that commitment today and in the future.”


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john
john
2 years ago

hmm..I wonder who these parents voted for in 2020. If you think it doesn’t matter, think again