Lia Thomas Sets Records in 100 Freestyle; Completes Ivy League Triple For Swimmer of Meet Honors

Ivy Meet - Lia Thomas
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Lia Thomas Sets Records in 100 Freestyle; Completes Ivy League Triple For Swimmer of Meet Honors

The final night of the Ivy League Championships featured a battle of transgender athletes for the title in the 100-yard freestyle. Ultimately, it was the University of Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas who prevailed over Yale’s Iszac Henig, with Thomas adding to her previous victories at the meet. Thomas established a meet, pool and school record of 47.63, which was quick enough to defeat Henig, who touched the wall in 47.82. Princeton’s Nikki Venema was the third-place finisher, as she clocked a time of 48.81.

Henig had a slight lead over Thomas at the midway mark, with the Yale swimmer splitting 23.06 and Thomas going 23.17. But over the last half of the race, Thomas was too strong and pulled ahead of Henig, a back-half split of 24.46 getting the job done. Henig registered a split of 24.76 for the last 50 yards.

The showdown in the 100 freestyle marked the first clash of the meet between the transgender swimmers in an individual event, although they raced head-to-head on the leadoff leg of the 800 freestyle relay. In the relay, Thomas also got the best of Henig. Thomas is a first-year member of the Penn women’s team, following three years as a member of the Quakers’ men’s program. Thomas’ participation on a women’s team has generated considerable controversy, due to undergoing male puberty and now competing against biological females. Henig, meanwhile, is a third-year member of Yale’s women’s team and transitioned to male at the beginning of last year.

Ivy League Championships

Thomas had a decision to make for the final day of competition: Contest the 1650 freestyle or the 100 freestyle, and she went with the shorter distance. Thomas previously won the 200 free and 500 free at the Ivy Champs, each victory claimed in dominant fashion. If Thomas is declared eligible for the NCAA Championships, her event schedule will likely include a substitution, as the longer event is Thomas’ better discipline.

Thomas’ participation at NCAAs will hinge on her testosterone threshold, which must measure 10 nmols/L. That target is considerably higher than the typical testosterone threshold of a biological female, that range usually sitting at .5 to 2.4 nmols/L. In its recently released guidelines for transgender participation, USA Swimming set the testosterone threshold at 5 nmols/L. The NCAA opted to defy that ruling, despite initially indicating it would comply with USA Swimming bylaws.

Henig has not drawn nearly the attention of Thomas since he has not taken any testosterone boosters which would aid performance. Because of this decision, and based on NCAA rules, Henig had the choice to compete as a member of either Yale’s men’s team or the school’s women’s squad.

Thomas also helped Penn to victory in the 400 freestyle relay, her leadoff leg of 48.14 putting the Quakers in command. Thomas was joined by Margot Kaczorowski, Hannah Kannan and Camryn Carter.

In other events, Harvard’s Felicia Pasadyn won the 200 backstroke in 1:53.58 and Penn’s Catherine Buroker completed her distance double by winning the 1650 freestyle in 16:21.17. Buroker had already won the 1000 freestyle and finished second behind Thomas in the 500 freestyle. Harvard’s Aleksandra Denisenko prevailed in the 200 breaststroke in 2:11.93 and Harvard’s Abigail Carr placed first in the 200 butterfly in 1:57.26.

Harvard won the team title over Yale and Penn.

 Event 15  Women 1650 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 15:57.34  2009      Alicia Aemisegger (Princeton)
  Pool Record: P 15:50.23  1981      Kim Linehan (Longhorn)
   NCAA A Std: A 15:52.41
   NCAA B Std: B 16:30.59
    Name                 Year School               Seed     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Buroker, Catherine     SO Penn             16:23.72   16:21.17B  32  
                 27.17        56.00 (28.83)
        1:25.19 (29.19)     1:54.75 (29.56)
        2:24.31 (29.56)     2:54.06 (29.75)
        3:23.72 (29.66)     3:53.24 (29.52)
        4:22.67 (29.43)     4:52.10 (29.43)
        5:21.59 (29.49)     5:51.10 (29.51)
        6:20.59 (29.49)     6:49.99 (29.40)
        7:19.58 (29.59)     7:49.19 (29.61)
        8:18.97 (29.78)     8:48.78 (29.81)
        9:18.67 (29.89)     9:48.45 (29.78)
       10:18.36 (29.91)    10:48.11 (29.75)
       11:18.01 (29.90)    11:47.85 (29.84)
       12:18.02 (30.17)    12:48.23 (30.21)
       13:18.67 (30.44)    13:49.01 (30.34)
       14:19.31 (30.30)    14:49.54 (30.23)
       15:20.12 (30.58)    15:50.81 (30.69)    16:21.17 (30.36)
  2 Marquardt, Ellie       SO Princeton        16:34.66   16:28.22B  28  
                 27.57        56.78 (29.21)
        1:26.19 (29.41)     1:55.76 (29.57)
        2:25.44 (29.68)     2:55.10 (29.66)
        3:24.81 (29.71)     3:54.29 (29.48)
        4:23.88 (29.59)     4:53.48 (29.60)
        5:23.45 (29.97)     5:52.90 (29.45)
        6:22.92 (30.02)     6:52.79 (29.87)
        7:22.97 (30.18)     7:52.82 (29.85)
        8:22.96 (30.14)     8:53.31 (30.35)
        9:23.74 (30.43)     9:53.97 (30.23)
       10:24.24 (30.27)    10:54.55 (30.31)
       11:24.97 (30.42)    11:55.36 (30.39)
       12:25.79 (30.43)    12:56.47 (30.68)
       13:26.85 (30.38)    13:57.12 (30.27)
       14:27.78 (30.66)    14:58.21 (30.43)
       15:28.11 (29.90)    15:58.60 (30.49)    16:28.22 (29.62)
  3 Kalandadze, Anna Sofi  JR Penn             16:31.12   16:28.85B  27  
                 27.05        56.23 (29.18)
        1:25.42 (29.19)     1:55.10 (29.68)
        2:24.66 (29.56)     2:54.39 (29.73)
        3:23.95 (29.56)     3:53.68 (29.73)
        4:23.51 (29.83)     4:53.25 (29.74)
        5:23.24 (29.99)     5:53.22 (29.98)
        6:23.47 (30.25)     6:53.66 (30.19)
        7:23.90 (30.24)     7:54.17 (30.27)
        8:24.35 (30.18)     8:54.52 (30.17)
        9:24.68 (30.16)     9:55.08 (30.40)
       10:25.51 (30.43)    10:55.86 (30.35)
       11:26.21 (30.35)    11:56.74 (30.53)
       12:26.96 (30.22)    12:57.24 (30.28)
       13:27.71 (30.47)    13:58.18 (30.47)
       14:28.42 (30.24)    14:58.94 (30.52)
       15:29.41 (30.47)    15:59.59 (30.18)    16:28.85 (29.26)
  4 Loomis, Ashley         SR Yale                   NT   16:36.57   26  
                 27.28        56.67 (29.39)
        1:26.25 (29.58)     1:56.11 (29.86)
        2:26.35 (30.24)     2:56.41 (30.06)
        3:26.51 (30.10)     3:57.01 (30.50)
        4:27.35 (30.34)     4:58.10 (30.75)
        5:28.51 (30.41)     5:58.94 (30.43)
        6:29.33 (30.39)     6:59.47 (30.14)
        7:29.94 (30.47)     8:00.62 (30.68)
        8:31.21 (30.59)     9:01.49 (30.28)
        9:32.03 (30.54)    10:02.65 (30.62)
       10:32.99 (30.34)    11:03.58 (30.59)
       11:34.07 (30.49)    12:04.48 (30.41)
       12:34.84 (30.36)    13:05.31 (30.47)
       13:35.77 (30.46)    14:06.24 (30.47)
       14:36.72 (30.48)    15:07.31 (30.59)
       15:37.81 (30.50)    16:07.85 (30.04)    16:36.57 (28.72)
  5 Giddings, Grace        SR Penn             16:44.50   16:37.79   25  
                 28.37        58.12 (29.75)
        1:28.35 (30.23)     1:58.35 (30.00)
        2:28.56 (30.21)     2:58.73 (30.17)
        3:28.71 (29.98)     3:58.90 (30.19)
        4:29.31 (30.41)     4:59.72 (30.41)
        5:30.03 (30.31)     6:00.34 (30.31)
        6:30.83 (30.49)     7:01.12 (30.29)
        7:31.15 (30.03)     8:01.40 (30.25)
        8:31.48 (30.08)     9:01.52 (30.04)
        9:31.58 (30.06)    10:01.82 (30.24)
       10:31.85 (30.03)    11:02.10 (30.25)
       11:32.45 (30.35)    12:02.80 (30.35)
       12:33.30 (30.50)    13:03.82 (30.52)
       13:34.48 (30.66)    14:05.04 (30.56)
       14:35.82 (30.78)    15:06.53 (30.71)
       15:37.41 (30.88)    16:07.95 (30.54)    16:37.79 (29.84)
  6 Girotto, Amelia        FR Penn             17:11.04   16:41.17   24  
                 28.46        58.70 (30.24)
        1:29.15 (30.45)     1:59.83 (30.68)
        2:30.30 (30.47)     3:00.62 (30.32)
        3:30.93 (30.31)     4:01.14 (30.21)
        4:31.31 (30.17)     5:01.46 (30.15)
        5:31.67 (30.21)     6:01.97 (30.30)
        6:32.11 (30.14)     7:02.17 (30.06)
        7:32.47 (30.30)     8:02.84 (30.37)
        8:33.54 (30.70)     9:04.34 (30.80)
        9:34.91 (30.57)    10:05.52 (30.61)
       10:36.00 (30.48)    11:06.59 (30.59)
       11:37.05 (30.46)    12:07.47 (30.42)
       12:37.96 (30.49)    13:08.53 (30.57)
       13:39.15 (30.62)    14:09.98 (30.83)
       14:40.71 (30.73)    15:11.28 (30.57)
       15:42.09 (30.81)    16:12.46 (30.37)    16:41.17 (28.71)
  7 Barrett, Sara          FR Brown            16:46.54   16:47.86   23  
                 28.02        57.77 (29.75)
        1:27.91 (30.14)     1:57.88 (29.97)
        2:28.23 (30.35)     2:58.91 (30.68)
        3:29.22 (30.31)     3:59.29 (30.07)
        4:29.76 (30.47)     5:00.22 (30.46)
        5:30.65 (30.43)     6:00.89 (30.24)
        6:31.60 (30.71)     7:02.22 (30.62)
        7:33.12 (30.90)     8:04.13 (31.01)
        8:34.93 (30.80)     9:05.79 (30.86)
        9:36.71 (30.92)    10:07.46 (30.75)
       10:38.39 (30.93)    11:09.28 (30.89)
       11:40.29 (31.01)    12:11.86 (31.57)
       12:43.15 (31.29)    13:13.94 (30.79)
       13:45.28 (31.34)    14:16.67 (31.39)
       14:47.87 (31.20)    15:18.84 (30.97)
       15:49.17 (30.33)    16:18.95 (29.78)    16:47.86 (28.91)
  8 Minnigh, Sarah         JR Dartmouth        17:40.40   16:48.35   22  
                 27.52        57.01 (29.49)
        1:27.26 (30.25)     1:57.73 (30.47)
        2:28.27 (30.54)     2:58.82 (30.55)
        3:29.19 (30.37)     3:59.89 (30.70)
        4:30.58 (30.69)     5:01.34 (30.76)
        5:32.42 (31.08)     6:03.30 (30.88)
        6:34.11 (30.81)     7:04.91 (30.80)
        7:35.73 (30.82)     8:06.59 (30.86)
        8:37.38 (30.79)     9:08.40 (31.02)
        9:39.20 (30.80)    10:09.93 (30.73)
       10:40.73 (30.80)    11:11.58 (30.85)
       11:42.43 (30.85)    12:13.42 (30.99)
       12:44.13 (30.71)    13:14.67 (30.54)
       13:45.52 (30.85)    14:16.09 (30.57)
       14:46.86 (30.77)    15:17.38 (30.52)
       15:47.83 (30.45)    16:18.40 (30.57)    16:48.35 (29.95)


 Event 16  Women 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 1:52.56  2020      Felicia Pasadyn (Harvard)
  Pool Record: P 1:54.64  2018      Quinn Scannell (Pennsylvania)
   NCAA A Std: A 1:50.50
   NCAA B Std: B 1:57.11
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Pasadyn, Felicia       SR Harvard           1:55.69    1:53.58P  32  
                 26.02        54.39 (28.37)
        1:23.63 (29.24)     1:53.58 (29.95)
  2 Massey, Alexandra      FR Yale              1:58.02    1:57.39   28  
                 28.11        58.12 (30.01)
        1:27.96 (29.84)     1:57.39 (29.43)
  3 Murphy, Quinn          FR Yale              1:58.09    1:57.42   27  
                 27.64        57.48 (29.84)
        1:27.61 (30.13)     1:57.42 (29.81)
  4 Whitmire, Liza         SO Princeton         1:57.08    1:57.44   26  
                 28.02        57.68 (29.66)
        1:27.49 (29.81)     1:57.44 (29.95)
  5 Kannan, Hannah         SR Penn              1:57.61    1:57.54   25  
                 27.54        57.65 (30.11)
        1:27.45 (29.80)     1:57.54 (30.09)
  6 Korbly, Isabella       FR Princeton         1:57.97    1:57.71   24  
                 27.35        57.25 (29.90)
        1:27.59 (30.34)     1:57.71 (30.12)
  7 Pruden, Mary           SR Columbia          1:58.65    1:59.13   23  
                 28.45        58.59 (30.14)
        1:28.85 (30.26)     1:59.13 (30.28)
  8 Ganihanova, Aziza      SO Columbia          1:58.16    1:59.27   22  
                 28.31        58.68 (30.37)
        1:29.03 (30.35)     1:59.27 (30.24)


 Event 17  Women 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 47.85  2019      Bella Hindley (Yale)
  Pool Record: P 48.64  2018      Miki Dahlke (Harvard)
   NCAA A Std: A 47.18
   NCAA B Std: B 49.51
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Thomas, Lia            SR Penn                48.71      47.63M  32  
                 23.17        47.63 (24.46)
  2 Henig, Iszac           JR Yale                47.80      47.82M  28  
                 23.06        47.82 (24.76)
  3 Venema, Nikki          JR Princeton           49.66      48.81B  27  
                 23.53        48.81 (25.28)
  4 Hamlin, Molly          FR Harvard             49.52      49.38B  26  
                 23.98        49.38 (25.40)
  5 Pilkinton, Ophelia     SO Yale                49.94      49.67   25  
                 23.97        49.67 (25.70)
  6 Kaczorowski, Margot    JR Penn                50.06      49.86   24  
                 24.15        49.86 (25.71)
  7 Wagner, Lindsey        SO Yale                49.85      49.89   23  
                 24.04        49.89 (25.85)
  8 Post, Ashley           JR Dartmouth           50.12      50.42   22  
                 24.35        50.42 (26.07)


 Event 18  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 2:08.47  2020      Jaycee Yegher (Harvard)
  Pool Record: P 2:09.37  2010      Susan Kim (Yale)
   NCAA A Std: A 2:06.58
   NCAA B Std: B 2:13.97
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Denisenko, Aleksandra  FR Harvard           2:13.78    2:11.93B  32  
                 30.04      1:04.18 (34.14)
        1:38.20 (34.02)     2:11.93 (33.73)
  2 Franks, Ava            FR Yale              2:15.73    2:12.79B  28  
                 29.35      1:03.06 (33.71)
        1:37.48 (34.42)     2:12.79 (35.31)
  3 McDonald, Margaux      SO Princeton         2:16.38    2:14.88   27  
                 30.25      1:03.84 (33.59)
        1:38.92 (35.08)     2:14.88 (35.96)
  4 Pytel, Isabella        FR Penn              2:16.70    2:15.11   26  
                 31.04      1:05.86 (34.82)
        1:40.11 (34.25)     2:15.11 (35.00)
  5 Thompson, Mikki        SR Harvard           2:14.56    2:15.46   25  
                 31.36      1:06.27 (34.91)
        1:40.56 (34.29)     2:15.46 (34.90)
  6 Lukawski, Audrey       SR Brown             2:16.15    2:15.82   24  
                 31.05      1:05.55 (34.50)
        1:40.18 (34.63)     2:15.82 (35.64)
  7 Paoletti, Olivia       JR Yale              2:16.47    2:15.87   23  
                 31.67      1:05.62 (33.95)
        1:40.25 (34.63)     2:15.87 (35.62)
  8 Boeckman, Anna         FR Penn              2:16.38    2:16.12   22  
                 30.88      1:05.05 (34.17)
        1:39.79 (34.74)     2:16.12 (36.33)

 Event 19  Women 200 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 1:54.60  2013      Alex Forrester (Yale)
  Pool Record: P 1:52.99  1981      Mary T. Meagher (Lakeside)
   NCAA A Std: A 1:53.20
   NCAA B Std: B 1:59.23
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Carr, Abigail          FR Harvard           1:58.08    1:57.26B  32  
                 26.89        56.91 (30.02)
        1:26.33 (29.42)     1:57.26 (30.93)
  2 Chong, Vanessa         FR Penn              2:00.03    1:58.17B  28  
                 25.93        55.45 (29.52)
        1:26.20 (30.75)     1:58.17 (31.97)
  3 Massey, Alexandra      FR Yale              2:00.32    1:58.72B  27  
                 26.75        57.21 (30.46)
        1:27.76 (30.55)     1:58.72 (30.96)
  4 Yeager, Jess           SO Princeton         1:59.19    1:58.75B  26  
                 27.02        56.98 (29.96)
        1:27.74 (30.76)     1:58.75 (31.01)
  5 Chidley, Nell          JR Brown             1:59.97    1:59.63   25  
                 26.70        56.84 (30.14)
        1:27.64 (30.80)     1:59.63 (31.99)
  6 Leko, Mia              JR Dartmouth         1:57.65    1:59.70   24  
                 26.09        55.57 (29.48)
        1:26.60 (31.03)     1:59.70 (33.10)
  7 Kim, Junseo            FR Yale              2:00.45    1:59.92   23  
                 26.94        57.07 (30.13)
        1:28.02 (30.95)     1:59.92 (31.90)
  8 Yoon, Grace            FR Harvard           2:00.54    2:01.13   22  
                 28.15        58.66 (30.51)
        1:29.49 (30.83)     2:01.13 (31.64)


 Event 21  Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
  Meet Record: M 3:14.48  2020      Harvard
                          F. Pasadyn, K. Quist, S. Shelton, M. Dahlke
  Pool Record: P 3:18.25  2015      Princeton
                          C. McIlmail, N. Larson, E. McDonald, M. Veith
   NCAA A Std: A 3:14.50
   NCAA B Std: B 3:16.35
    School                                 Seed     Finals Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Penn                                3:22.50    3:17.80P  64  
     1) Thomas, Lia SR                2) Kaczorowski, Margot JR       
     3) Kannan, Hannah SR             4) Carter, Camryn JR            
                 23.38        48.14 (48.14)
        1:11.81 (23.67)     1:37.35 (49.21)
        2:01.09 (23.74)     2:27.65 (50.30)
        2:51.11 (23.46)     3:17.80 (50.15)
  2 Harvard                             3:19.40    3:19.17   56  
     1) Pasadyn, Felicia SR           2) Shelton, Samantha JR         
     3) Denisenko, Aleksandra FR      4) Hamlin, Molly FR             
                 24.12        49.76 (49.76)
        1:13.44 (23.68)     1:39.30 (49.54)
        2:03.79 (24.49)     2:30.10 (50.80)
        2:54.16 (24.06)     3:19.17 (49.07)
  3 Yale                                3:17.61    3:19.71   54  
     1) Pilkinton, Ophelia SO         2) Wagner, Lindsey SO           
     3) Weng, Vivian FR               4) Franks, Ava FR               
                 23.83        49.56 (49.56)
        1:13.02 (23.46)     1:38.79 (49.23)
        2:02.89 (24.10)     2:28.63 (49.84)
        2:52.75 (24.12)     3:19.71 (51.08)
  4 Princeton                           3:20.87    3:21.66   52  
     1) Bradley, Christina JR         2) Liu, Amelia JR               
     3) Marquardt, Ellie SO           4) Secrest, Jennifer JR         
                 24.15        50.50 (50.50)
        1:14.42 (23.92)     1:40.90 (50.40)
        2:04.60 (23.70)     2:31.10 (50.20)
        2:55.11 (24.01)     3:21.66 (50.56)
  5 Columbia                            3:23.69    3:22.44   50  
     1) Macdonald, Emily FR           2) Jubin, Olivia JR             
     3) Ganihanova, Aziza SO          4) Arevalo, Isabelle JR         
                 24.24        50.43 (50.43)
        1:14.67 (24.24)     1:41.18 (50.75)
        2:05.42 (24.24)     2:32.03 (50.85)
        2:56.06 (24.03)     3:22.44 (50.41)
  6 Dartmouth                           3:29.56    3:24.03   48  
     1) Post, Ashley JR               2) Leko, Mia JR                 
     3) Howley, Mary FR               4) Wortzman, Zoe JR             
                 24.45        50.41 (50.41)
        1:14.79 (24.38)     1:42.88 (52.47)
        2:06.71 (23.83)     2:33.62 (50.74)
        2:57.94 (24.32)     3:24.03 (50.41)
  7 Cornell                             3:24.49    3:24.40   46  
     1) Wongso, Priscilla SO          2) Gruvberger, Anna SO          
     3) Tsai, Sophia FR               4) Parker, Melissa JR           
                 24.66        51.05 (51.05)
        1:15.21 (24.16)     1:42.22 (51.17)
        2:06.73 (24.51)     2:34.30 (52.08)
        2:57.88 (23.58)     3:24.40 (50.10)
  8 Brown                               3:26.68    3:25.40   44  
     1) Podurgiel, Anna FR            2) Scott, Samantha SO           
     3) Reznicek, Jenna FR            4) Orange, Audrey JR            
                 24.65        50.95 (50.95)
        1:15.27 (24.32)     1:42.16 (51.21)
        2:06.69 (24.53)     2:33.62 (51.46)
        2:58.62 (25.00)     3:25.40 (51.78)
 
                     Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 21                     
 
  1. Harvard University             1503.5   2. Yale University                  1258
  3. University of Pennsylvania       1256   4. Princeton University             1074
  5. Brown University                  904   6. Columbia University             706.5
  7. Dartmouth College                 563   8. Cornell University                508
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XX Title IX Proponent
XX Title IX Proponent
2 years ago

A MAN broke the women’s 100 Free “Ivy, meet, pool, and Penn program record” and to argue otherwise is absurd.

Lia races with XY chromsomes: Y biologically determines male sex in humans.

Lia races with a testosterone level that is multiples above a normal female level. The NCAA will allow a testosterone level twice as high as USA Swimming’s limit, which means Lia’s testosterone level could be 4 to 20 times a normal female level. Sounds fair!

Lia benefits from 20 years of anatomic and physiologic development as a Division I-level XY male athlete.

Yeah, so there might have been some slight advantages for Lia in this year of perverse “record-breaking” performances.

Lia spits in the faces of female athletes by dogging the races, doing just enough to “win”. Any competitive swimmer recognizes a slow stroke rate and absent kicking until just enough is needed for a final wall tap. Negative splits and “close” races tell the whole story. It is taunting and poor sportsMANship at best. Watching intelligent, powerful, and supposedly competitive XX female NCAA opponents blindly accept this is very sad commentary on the true leadership skills of these future Ivy League graduates and societal leaders.

The only true records being broken are the gross numbers of female athletes, coaches, NCAA officials, and even ESPN announcers turning a blind eye to absurdity.

I guess Title IX meant nothing to women after all these decades?

INSANITY!

2
Direlda
Direlda
2 years ago
Reply to  XX Title IX Proponent

So it’s worth noting that an intersex individual with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) would be considered a male athlete under your use of chromosomes as the determinant of male/female. An individual with CAIS is born with XY chromosomes, external female genitalia, undescended testes, testosterone levels in the male range, and an inability to utilize testosterone. They generally have female written on their birth certificate and generally identify as female. Most individuals with CAIS do not learn of their condition until puberty when they fail to menstruate (chromosomes usually aren’t checked when a baby is born).

Similarly, an intersex individual with XX Male Syndrome is born with XX chromosomes and, depending on how the syndrome presents, may be born with male internal and external genitalia. I think testosterone levels might be lower than endosex males, but I don’t know if the testosterone levels are still higher than the female range. These individuals generally have male written on their birth certificates and generally identify as female.

While such intersex individuals’ experiences are different from transgender individuals’ experiences, it is important to keep in mind how people whose sex or gender identity no one would think to question would be impacted by making chromosomes the method of determining which team an athlete should compete on. And if chromosomes are also used to determine which locker room an individual should use, then there might arise a situation in which an individual with XX Male Syndrome is told to use the female locker rooms despite having male on the birth certificate, identifying as a male, and having the habitus and genitals of a male.

And as individuals with CAIS show, just having testosterone levels in the male range does not mean that an individual has gained a benefit from that testosterone. So you can’t just rely on testing testosterone levels to determine sports participation–you also have to account for conditions such as CAIS to ensure that those individuals aren’t unfairly excluded.

0
Direlda
Direlda
2 years ago
Reply to  Direlda

Typo in my paragraph on XX Male Syndrome. The last word in the last sentence of that paragraph should be “male” and not “female,” as generally those with XX Male Syndrome identify as males.

0
Inga
Inga
2 years ago
Reply to  XX Title IX Proponent

Agree, absurd! Men taking over women’s sport. Shame on NCSA for allowing it!

0
Inga
Inga
2 years ago
Reply to  XX Title IX Proponent

YES!!!

0
MillerTime
MillerTime
2 years ago

UVA girls will take him down at NCAAs – all they have to do is repeat ACCs !!! Then he won’t swim anymore…because he just got beat by girls. (Sorry) – not really.

Hope this will help his teammates heal from this past year.

0
Billy
Billy
2 years ago

“Lia” could be the nicest person on earth, but that does not give “her” the right to swim against real XX female competitors. It’s completely unfair to say the least. She toys with her competitors and dogs it until the final lap or two to win her race without much effort. Any knowledgeable follow of the sport of swimming can easily see this. She is a much faster swimmer than “she” is demonstrating, much faster. She’s making a mockery of the sport and I find this very offensive on so many levels. She still has her male “private parts” and if that’s a woman, I guess I am one too. What a joke…..

1
OceanSpirit
OceanSpirit
2 years ago
Reply to  Billy

Fact: William Lia Thomas is a man.

1
SETH
SETH
2 years ago

Thank you Jordan, your heartfelt comment is heard and appreciated. I agree with your sentiments.

0
Season
Season
2 years ago

So many of the transphobic comments are rooted in elitist segregation and wanting to keep people who don’t look like themselves out of their pool and neighborhoods. Look at the visuals of the Ivy swim teams; rich lily white. Note also how they are negative about Lia but not Henig; ask yourself why are they okay for a him to be on the her team, but not Lia (a her on the her team). The NCAA needs to desegregate completely and stop discriminating against the most gifted athletes on the basis of gender identity and race. That would surely be more inclusive and equitable.

0
Nathan
Nathan
2 years ago
Reply to  Season

I think if I am reading your logic correctly the guys would win all the races. For instance, the 20th fastest male 100 free time is around 41 seconds.

0
Alfreda
Alfreda
2 years ago
Reply to  Season

Season, Season, Season. Illogic does not persuade.
“Note also how they are negative about Lia but not Henig; ask yourself why are they okay for a him to be on the her team, but not Lia (a her on the her team). ”

“Lia” is a male, with man parts, who swam as a man for 3 years on the Penn men’s team. He took a few doses of hormones, kept his man parts and all of his male physical development. He is still a man, swimming on the women’s team.
Henig, on the other hand, is a biological woman who ostensibly has not taken any testosterone or transitioned to male other than having a mastectomy (which may streamline and improve her time, but meh). Henig will not be able to swim on the women’s team after beginning testosterone treatments. So why be mad at Henig?

Looking at the two cases side by side, surely you can see how ludicrous “Lia” is pretending to be a woman. As a woman, I think this exerting himself just enough to win behavior on “Lia’s” part is pathetic and cringeworthy, and he is not fooling anyone.

0
OceanSpirit
OceanSpirit
2 years ago
Reply to  Season

Because Lia is NOT a HER. He was BORN a MAN. NO amount of wishing will make him otherwise.

0
Alfreda
Alfreda
2 years ago

The truth is painful sometimes.

-1
Alfreda
Alfreda
2 years ago

Also, Jordan: you are expecting everyone else to live in your heads. Biological characteristics are physical, not mental. It’s abusive when transgenders rail on people for not toeing their gender line. I’m asking you to stop abusing people for choosing physical biological makeup to determine who is a man or woman. It’s a losing proposition and just makes you look unreasonable and mean.

0
OceanSpirit
OceanSpirit
2 years ago
Reply to  Alfreda

Amen, Alfreda!!

0
JONES
JONES
2 years ago

Jordan,
In all of the arguments against “Lia’s” participation, none have been about the decision to identify as a female. This is about fairness to FEMALE athletes. You appear, as Alfreda said, as one with the issues.
You need to understand that giving one person a huge, unfair, advantage over every other female swimmer is NOT the definition of fairness.

0
JONES
JONES
2 years ago

Jordan,
In all of the arguments against “Lia’s” participation, none have been about the decision to identify as a female. This is about fairness to FEMALE athletes. You appear, as Alfreda said, as one with the issues.
You need to understand that giving one person a huge, unfair, advantage over every other female swimmer is NOT the definition of fairness.

-1
Season
Season
2 years ago
Reply to  JONES

Jones and Alfreda. Would you not agree that the Penn swimmers being born wealthy gives them a huge unfair advantage over those born in poverty? If so, should that not be mitigated to create meaningful competition? That is, mitigate all huge unfair advantages (eg wealth) so as to allow for meaningful competition.

-1
Alfreda
Alfreda
2 years ago
Reply to  Season

Season, you seem to have some agenda beyond the topic of this article which should be addressed in another forum to be meaningful and pertinent. Otherwise I can only think you are presenting some straw man to start an argument that goes nowhere and distracts from the issues being discussed here. I am not biting.

0
FromEurope
FromEurope
2 years ago

Congrats to Lia Thomas, Top Time ! Absolutely amazing ??? ??

-2
SETH
SETH
2 years ago
Reply to  FromEurope

Yes!

0
OceanSpirit
OceanSpirit
2 years ago

People speaking the truth is not being transphobic. Silencing opinions you disagree with is cowardly.

0
SETH
SETH
2 years ago
Reply to  OceanSpirit

OceanSpirit, no one is silencing you. You are expressing your opinion, as is everyone else who is commenting on this article.

0
OceanSpirit
OceanSpirit
2 years ago

Season, stay on topic, please. We are not changing the subject because you can’t handle valid arguments that prove our point.

1
SETH
SETH
2 years ago
Reply to  OceanSpirit

Ah, so now you’re not being silenced?

-2