The University of Pennsylvania nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for an NCAA “Woman of the Year” award and promptly received massive backlash online.
Thomas was nominated for the 2022 “Woman of the Year” award by UPenn.
The NCAA noted that the Woman of the Year award was established in 1991 and “honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions.”
While the NCAA does not specify that the woman in question must be biologically a female to be nominated, they do note that candidates must be eligible “female student-athletes.”
How will that work considering Thomas has been banned from female races according to the International Swimming Federation?
Scientists stated in the FINA report, “Biological sex is a key determinant of athletic performance, with males outperforming females in sports (including Aquatics sports) that are primarily determined by neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory function, and anthropometrics including body and limb size.”
They said that 71.5% of federation members voted to adopt a revised “gender inclusion policy” after reviewing the conclusions of a working group established in November to examine the scientific and human rights issues associated with transgender swimmers.
“We have to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also have to protect competitive fairness at our events, especially the women’s category at FINA competitions,” said FINA President Husain Al-Musallam in a statement.
What is FINA? It is the International Federation recognized by the Internation Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in Aquatics. Its primary mission is to promote and encourage the advancement of Aquatics in all possible aspects, throughout the world.
In addition, swimmers in women’s competitions whose testosterone in serum tests above 2.5 nanomoles per liter may be subject to sanctions, including being disqualified retroactively and ruled ineligible for a certain period, depending on whether the infraction was intentional or unintentional.
Thomas was born a male and even competed at the collegiate level as a male swimmer. He was ranked 462nd. He transitioned and suddenly is the #1 ranked female collegiate swimmer stealing awards and records from biological women who spent their entire lives becoming the best female swimmers.
He should be ashamed of himself.
Back in February, 16 anonymous UPenn swimmers penned a letter to the school and the Ivy League calling for Thomas to be barred from competition – citing a biological advantage.
Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender activist and former Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete, called Thomas’ participation in the women’s division “one of the worst things to happen to the trans community.”
He is one of 577 graduating female student-athletes nominated by their schools for the prestigious award, according to the NCAA.
“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 on the “Unmuted with Marsha” podcast with Senator Marsha Blackburn.
