Swimming: Lia Thomas, first transgender swimmer university champion in the United States

His case has caused a lot of water to flow in the basins for a few months... and a lot of victories in regional interuniversity competitions.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle final (approximately 457 m) at the American University Swimming Championships in Atlanta on Thursday March 17.

Lia Thomas, 23, who represents the University of Pennsylvania, thus became the first transgender swimmer to win an NCAA title by completing her race in 4′33′'24, more than a second and a half ahead of Emma Weyant, second in 4′34′'99, in front of an embarrassed audience, even above all annoyed, because it was largely made up of families of athletes.

Thomas, who had competed as a man at Penn State before undergoing a gender reassignment from 2019, is divided.

Some feel she has an unfair physiological advantage, while others believe she should be allowed to compete freely as a woman.

“It means the world to be here.”

Lia Thomas spoke about swimming in the NCAA women's championships.

pic.twitter.com/aP0afVA0KE

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 18, 2022

Coming out of the pool, the Texan by birth did not escape questions about the controversy aroused by her performances.

Especially since demonstrators marched in front of the swimming pool to demand its exclusion.

"I try to ignore it as much as possible," said the American, formerly known as Will, who will be one of the favorites in the 200 yards.

I try to focus on my swimming, what I need to do to get ready for my races and I try to block out everything else.

It means everything to me to be here, to be with two of my best friends and teammates and to be able to compete.

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Since the end of 2021 and her return to competition under her new identity, Lia Thomas has not stopped winning.

Often with disconcerting ease.

Thus, in early December, in Ohio neighboring her adopted Pennsylvania, the swimmer signed two Ivy League records, which brings together eight private universities in the northeastern United States, an NCAA best time of the season. over 1,650 yards (in 15′59′'71, 38 seconds ahead of her runner-up) and a qualification for the NCAA national meeting she is currently playing.

At the time, some of her own teammates thought of boycotting a meeting as a sign of protest before changing their minds on pain of reprisals from their university, which is delighted to be hosting a fine example of inclusion through sport in a very conservative state.

“Each sport must establish its own criteria to know what constitutes an unfair advantage, loose Thomas.

Everyone should be able to compete in the category in which they feel best, unless there is a proven unfair advantage.

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Group Protests Lia Thomas Participation at NCAA Women's Division I Swimming Championships - https://t.co/Ogccm3lgkR pic.twitter.com/MPrhomBpSQ

— Swimming World (@SwimmingWorld) March 17, 2022

In February 2022, the American federation had to lay down new regulations juggling between the concern for inclusion and sporting fairness.

USA Swimming imposed two criteria, reviewed by a medical panel.

It must first be provided with "proof that the athlete's previous physical development, as a man, and although attenuated by any medical intervention, does not give the athlete a competitive advantage over his competitors. cisgender women (Editor’s note: people who identify with their biological sex at birth).

Then, it must be proven "that the athlete's serum testosterone concentration has been below 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least thirty-six months prior to the date of the application".

Lia Thomas has met these recent requirements.

“These new, drastic restrictions appear to be direct retaliation against Lia Thomas,” reacted Anne Lieberman, one of the directors of Athlete Ally, which campaigns for the broader inclusion of transgender people in sport.