Lia Thomas’ Struggle For Rights In Competitive Swimming
By Ylvie Abbey
Lia Thomas has become an important figure in competitive swimming, known not only for her talent, but also for the conversations she has started about gender, identity, and inclusion in sports. As a transgender athlete, Thomas has faced both support and criticism, making her a key player in the discussion about transgender rights in athletics.
Thomas was born in 1999 in Austin, Texas and loved swimming from a young age. She joined her local swim team and later competed at the collegiate level. Initially, she swam for the University of Pennsylvania's men’s team. However, her journey took a big turn when she came out as transgender and began her transition in 2019, which included hormone therapy. This process affected her athletic performance and physical changes. By the time she joined the women’s team, she had gone through changes that influenced her strength and endurance.
In 2021 and 2022, Thomas gained attention for her success on the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swimming team. She won the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships in March 2022, becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport. In 2024, she was barred from competing in the Paris Olympics after judges on a Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Thomas’ request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body, concluding that, “she lacks standing to challenge the policy and the operational requirements in the framework of the present proceeding.”
Her achievements brought her into the spotlight, receiving both praise and criticism. Supporters celebrated her for representing transgender athletes, while others raised concerns about fairness in competition. Thomas’ participation in swimming has created important discussions in the sports community. Organizations like the NCAA are working to create fair policies for all athletes. Some institutions are changing or switching their rules regarding transgender athletes, leading to different guidelines across various sports.
At the moment, Lia Thomas continues to advocate for transgender rights and visibility. Her journey inspires many new transgender athletes and encourages the importance of sharing your identity in sports. At the same time, in 2022, a CNN anchor called Thomas, "the face of the debate on transgender women in sports." Sports Illustrated called her "the most controversial athlete in America".
I am just beginning to grapple with this controversy. I tend to think there should be specific regulations because it is not fair for biological women who try their best, just as Lia does, but still cannot compare due to physical differences. However, it is also degrading for trans competitors like Lia, because they deserve to compete just as any other person should. There have been many different solutions proposed to include trans athletes. But there is no consensus. Moreover, these solutions still do not set things right for everyone. A broad public discussion is necessary. Unfortunately, much of this discussion is led by bad actors.
