(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male, dominated the competition at the NCAA Women’s swimming championship.
According to Rowdy Gaines, a swimming analyst, the women involved really had no chance, OutKick reported.
“[Thomas] really took control of the race,” Gaines said. “Emma Weyant did as much as she could to hang in there, and did a spectacular job in getting second.”
When asked to speak about the victory, the transgendered Thomas noted that this was an important milestone.
“It means the world to be here,” Thomas told ESPN’s Elizabeth Beisel in an interview after the race.
“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
But not all are impressed by Thomas’ domination of the women’s sport.
Swimmers from Thomas’ own team have even expressed their disappointment with the situation.
“They feel so discouraged because no matter how much work they put in it, they’re going to lose,” a Penn swimmer said earlier this season.
“Usually, they can get behind the blocks and know they out-trained all their competitors and they’re going to win and give it all they’ve got.”
Several women’s swimming enthusiasts took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
Man wins Women’s 500 free – @ESPN: “That’s where she [Thomas-male] really took control of the race. Emma Weyant [UVA, Olympian] did as much as she could to hang in there, and did a spectacular job in getting second.” #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/gljyl3A1TK
— Emily Kreps (@ekreps) March 17, 2022
Others simply praised Weyant, who is a woman and finished second.
Round of applause for Emma Weyant, the UVA swimmer who placed second in the 500y freestyle tonight, behind Lia Thomas. Second is the new first. #savewomenssports pic.twitter.com/NtHookm3qQ
— Angela Morabito (@AngelaLMorabito) March 18, 2022
“Round of applause for Emma Weyant, the UVA swimmer who placed second in the 500 [yard] freestyle tonight behind Lia Thomas,” she wrote. “Second is the new first.”
Before the championship meet, the mother of a women’s Ivy League swimmer expressed concern and frustration at what was unfolding and the impact the decision was having to allow a biological man to compete as a women.
“At the start of the season, the girls thought that ‘Of course this isn’t right,'” the mother said.
“They thought that the universities would recognize that there was a problem and that they shouldn’t have to be competing against a male, full grown male, in order to win races or have opportunities. As the year went on, it became clear that they weren’t going to change anything.
“At the end of the day, I hope that the IOC, the NCAA, and governing bodies of sport all recognize that women are women,” she added.
“We can’t shrug off our sex,” the mother said. “Men are men, they can’t shrug off their sex, and women’s sports is protected for females.”
The results from the NCAA’s championship meet indicate otherwise.
