Lia Thomas Blasts Huge Closing Split to Win 200 Free in Meet Record at Ivy Champs; Negative Split Suggests Holding Back

Lia Thomas Blasts Huge Closing Split to Win 200 Free in Meet Record at Ivy Champs; Negative Split Suggests Holding Back

Make it a pair of Ivy League championships for Lia Thomas.

The University of Pennsylvania senior captured top honors in the 200-yard freestyle on Friday night, racing to a winning time of 1:43.12 at Blodgett Pool. Not only did Thomas establish a pool record with her performance, she set a meet record by slicing .66 of the previous standard. The effort complemented the title she collected in the 500 freestyle a night earlier.

Thomas had company during the first half of the race, as Samantha Shelton of Harvard, who finished second in 1:45.82, was just behind at the midway point. Thomas touched at the 100-yard mark in 52.14, with Shelton following in 52.19. At the 300, it was Thomas in 1:18.08 to the 1:18.89 of Shelton. The difference in the sizable gap at the finish came on the final 50 yards, which Thomas covered in 25.04, compared to the 26.93 of Shelton. Thomas’ closing 50 appears to be the fastest in history.

With Thomas producing splits of 52.14 and 50.98, it is clear that the Penn swimmer held back during the front half of the race and only shifted into a higher gear down the stretch. Thomas’ best for the season is her 1:41.93 outing from early December and it is highly likely that Thomas is sandbagging her races in order to avoid the additional attention she would garner with faster times.

Thomas has been embroiled in controversy throughout this season, which is her first as a member of the Penn women’s team. Thomas is a transgender athlete who previously competed for three years as a member of the Quakers’ men’s program. Thomas was an average male swimmer before transitioning but is now ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle among female swimmers.

Ivy League Championships

Because Thomas underwent male puberty, there has been considerable debate over the senior racing against biological females, where she has advantages such as a greater testosterone threshold and lung capacity. To compete at next month’s NCAA Championships in Atlanta, she must possess a testosterone level of 10 nmols/L or lower, which is the standard identified by the collegiate sports governing body. In its new guidelines for transgender participation, USA Swimming requires a testosterone threshold of 5 nmols/L.

Penn’s Catherine Buroker, who was second to Thomas in the 500 freestyle, won the 1000 free in 9:43.54, while Harvard’s Felicia Pasadyn bested the field in the 400 individual medley behind a mark of 4:10.45. In other action, Princeton’s Nikki Venema prevailed in the 100 butterfly in 52.42 and Harvard’s Aleksandra Denisenko won the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.96. Brown’s Jenna Reznicek touched in 52.94 to win the 100 backstroke.

 Event 8  Women 1000 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 9:33.43  2008      Alicia Aemisegger (Princeton)
  Pool Record: P 9:28.49  2007      Kate Ziegler (Fish)
    Name                 Year School               Seed     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Buroker, Catherine     SO Penn              9:56.25    9:43.54   32  
                 26.86        55.25 (28.39)
        1:24.04 (28.79)     1:53.11 (29.07)
        2:22.25 (29.14)     2:51.26 (29.01)
        3:20.56 (29.30)     3:49.91 (29.35)
        4:19.25 (29.34)     4:48.43 (29.18)
        5:17.67 (29.24)     5:47.20 (29.53)
        6:16.64 (29.44)     6:46.07 (29.43)
        7:15.52 (29.45)     7:44.96 (29.44)
        8:14.54 (29.58)     8:44.28 (29.74)
        9:14.24 (29.96)     9:43.54 (29.30)
  2 Kalandadze, Anna Sofi  JR Penn              9:48.15    9:50.05   28  
                 26.61        55.12 (28.51)
        1:23.92 (28.80)     1:53.10 (29.18)
        2:22.38 (29.28)     2:51.45 (29.07)
        3:21.01 (29.56)     3:50.61 (29.60)
        4:20.26 (29.65)     4:50.09 (29.83)
        5:20.00 (29.91)     5:49.98 (29.98)
        6:20.08 (30.10)     6:49.87 (29.79)
        7:19.91 (30.04)     7:49.99 (30.08)
        8:20.29 (30.30)     8:50.60 (30.31)
        9:21.04 (30.44)     9:50.05 (29.01)
  3 Ganihanova, Aziza      SO Columbia         10:04.73    9:53.92   27  
                 27.81        57.71 (29.90)
        1:27.92 (30.21)     1:58.12 (30.20)
        2:28.28 (30.16)     2:58.21 (29.93)
        3:28.46 (30.25)     3:58.65 (30.19)
        4:28.87 (30.22)     4:58.81 (29.94)
        5:28.43 (29.62)     5:58.12 (29.69)
        6:28.00 (29.88)     6:57.87 (29.87)
        7:27.94 (30.07)     7:57.00 (29.06)
        8:26.48 (29.48)     8:55.71 (29.23)
        9:25.08 (29.37)     9:53.92 (28.84)
  4 Giddings, Grace        SR Penn              9:58.45    9:57.15   26  
                 27.79        56.92 (29.13)
        1:26.33 (29.41)     1:55.68 (29.35)
        2:25.28 (29.60)     2:54.91 (29.63)
        3:24.69 (29.78)     3:54.66 (29.97)
        4:24.74 (30.08)     4:54.88 (30.14)
        5:24.88 (30.00)     5:55.08 (30.20)
        6:25.17 (30.09)     6:55.40 (30.23)
        7:25.73 (30.33)     7:56.11 (30.38)
        8:26.30 (30.19)     8:56.69 (30.39)
        9:27.16 (30.47)     9:57.15 (29.99)
  5 Loomis, Ashley         SR Yale              9:58.46    9:57.92   25  
                 27.40        56.26 (28.86)
        1:25.73 (29.47)     1:55.57 (29.84)
        2:25.57 (30.00)     2:55.69 (30.12)
        3:25.77 (30.08)     3:55.92 (30.15)
        4:26.19 (30.27)     4:56.54 (30.35)
        5:27.15 (30.61)     5:57.39 (30.24)
        6:27.89 (30.50)     6:58.40 (30.51)
        7:28.67 (30.27)     7:58.78 (30.11)
        8:29.15 (30.37)     8:59.35 (30.20)
        9:29.63 (30.28)     9:57.92 (28.29)
  6 Barrett, Sara          FR Brown            10:01.75    9:58.96   24  
                 27.64        57.03 (29.39)
        1:27.03 (30.00)     1:56.99 (29.96)
        2:27.05 (30.06)     2:57.11 (30.06)
        3:27.16 (30.05)     3:57.51 (30.35)
        4:27.75 (30.24)     4:58.33 (30.58)
        5:28.68 (30.35)     5:58.82 (30.14)
        6:29.29 (30.47)     7:00.04 (30.75)
        7:30.63 (30.59)     8:01.26 (30.63)
        8:31.13 (29.87)     9:01.22 (30.09)
        9:30.47 (29.25)     9:58.96 (28.49)
  7 Rose, Carlie           FR Harvard          10:14.20    9:59.40   23  
                 28.08        57.98 (29.90)
        1:28.09 (30.11)     1:58.08 (29.99)
        2:28.14 (30.06)     2:58.25 (30.11)
        3:28.26 (30.01)     3:58.38 (30.12)
        4:28.75 (30.37)     4:59.04 (30.29)
        5:29.39 (30.35)     5:59.75 (30.36)
        6:30.13 (30.38)     7:00.43 (30.30)
        7:30.60 (30.17)     8:00.55 (29.95)
        8:30.45 (29.90)     9:00.35 (29.90)
        9:30.14 (29.79)     9:59.40 (29.26)
  8 Girotto, Amelia        FR Penn             10:06.22   10:02.02   22  
                 27.85        57.69 (29.84)
        1:27.76 (30.07)     1:58.12 (30.36)
        2:28.42 (30.30)     2:58.51 (30.09)
        3:28.64 (30.13)     3:58.85 (30.21)
        4:28.96 (30.11)     4:58.94 (29.98)
        5:28.92 (29.98)     5:59.05 (30.13)
        6:29.61 (30.56)     7:00.05 (30.44)
        7:30.69 (30.64)     8:01.10 (30.41)
        8:31.61 (30.51)     9:02.30 (30.69)
        9:32.86 (30.56)    10:02.02 (29.16)

 Event 9  Women 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 4:06.15  2009      Alicia Aemisegger (Princeton)
  Pool Record: P 4:04.63  1981      Tracy Caulkins (Nashville)
   NCAA A Std: A 4:03.62
   NCAA B Std: B 4:17.30
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Pasadyn, Felicia       SR Harvard           4:13.45    4:10.45B  32  
                 25.69        54.74 (29.05)
        1:25.73 (30.99)     1:57.18 (31.45)
        2:33.77 (36.59)     3:12.04 (38.27)
        3:41.51 (29.47)     4:10.45 (28.94)
  2 Thompson, Mikki        SR Harvard           4:13.86    4:14.14B  28  
                 28.42      1:00.12 (31.70)
        1:34.27 (34.15)     2:07.11 (32.84)
        2:41.98 (34.87)     3:17.05 (35.07)
        3:45.81 (28.76)     4:14.14 (28.33)
  3 Pruden, Mary           SR Columbia          4:17.22    4:15.00B  27  
                 28.03        59.39 (31.36)
        1:31.75 (32.36)     2:03.14 (31.39)
        2:40.33 (37.19)     3:17.76 (37.43)
        3:46.67 (28.91)     4:15.00 (28.33)
  4 Marquardt, Ellie       SO Princeton         4:17.60    4:16.15B  26  
                 26.79        57.22 (30.43)
        1:30.43 (33.21)     2:03.42 (32.99)
        2:41.06 (37.64)     3:18.43 (37.37)
        3:47.70 (29.27)     4:16.15 (28.45)
  5 Cavanagh, Erin         FR Harvard           4:17.17    4:16.24B  25  
                 28.84        59.22 (30.38)
        1:32.11 (32.89)     2:05.33 (33.22)
        2:41.39 (36.06)     3:19.06 (37.67)
        3:47.29 (28.23)     4:16.24 (28.95)
  6 Yeager, Jess           SO Princeton         4:16.99    4:17.94   24  
                 26.99        57.48 (30.49)
        1:30.62 (33.14)     2:04.09 (33.47)
        2:40.47 (36.38)     3:18.78 (38.31)
        3:48.88 (30.10)     4:17.94 (29.06)
  7 Paoletti, Olivia       JR Yale              4:18.70    4:18.48   23  
                 28.05        59.51 (31.46)
        1:33.52 (34.01)     2:07.56 (34.04)
        2:42.70 (35.14)     3:18.60 (35.90)
        3:49.01 (30.41)     4:18.48 (29.47)
  8 Paoletti, Isabella     FR Yale              4:18.85    4:25.46   22  
                 28.29      1:00.04 (31.75)
        1:34.42 (34.38)     2:08.46 (34.04)
        2:45.59 (37.13)     3:23.31 (37.72)
        3:55.02 (31.71)     4:25.46 (30.44)

 Event 10  Women 100 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 51.57  2013      Alex Forrester (Yale)
  Pool Record: P 51.89  2018      Miki Dahlke (Harvard)
   NCAA A Std: A 50.92
   NCAA B Std: B 53.76
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Venema, Nikki          JR Princeton           53.63      52.42B  32  
                 24.87        52.42 (27.55)
  2 Carr, Abigail          FR Harvard             53.86      52.69B  28  
                 24.69        52.69 (28.00)
  3 Henig, Iszac           JR Yale                53.53      52.82B  27  
                 24.90        52.82 (27.92)
  4 Massey, Alexandra      FR Yale                53.73      53.59B  26  
                 25.46        53.59 (28.13)
  5 Chidley, Nell          JR Brown               54.56      54.00   25  
                 25.20        54.00 (28.80)
  6 Reznicek, Jenna        FR Brown               54.00      54.08   24  
                 25.45        54.08 (28.63)
  7 Bradley, Christina     JR Princeton           54.39      54.16   23  
                 25.47        54.16 (28.69)
  8 Matsushima, Sage       JR Brown               54.63      54.64   22  
                 25.61        54.64 (29.03)

 Event 11  Women 200 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 1:43.78  2020      Miki Dahlke (Harvard)
  Pool Record: P 1:45.00  2018      Miki Dahlke (Harvard)
   NCAA A Std: A 1:42.98
   NCAA B Std: B 1:47.12
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Thomas, Lia            SR Penn              1:44.91    1:43.12M  32  
                 25.12        52.14 (27.02)
        1:18.08 (25.94)     1:43.12 (25.04)
  2 Shelton, Samantha      JR Harvard           1:47.42    1:45.82B  28  
                 24.94        52.19 (27.25)
        1:18.89 (26.70)     1:45.82 (26.93)
  3 Hamlin, Molly          FR Harvard           1:46.66    1:47.33   27  
                 25.37        52.71 (27.34)
        1:20.10 (27.39)     1:47.33 (27.23)
  4 Post, Ashley           JR Dartmouth         1:48.09    1:47.48   26  
                 25.06        52.36 (27.30)
        1:20.09 (27.73)     1:47.48 (27.39)
  5 Moesch, Marlise        SR Yale              1:48.25    1:48.09   25  
                 25.70        52.94 (27.24)
        1:20.49 (27.55)     1:48.09 (27.60)
  6 O'Leary, Bridget       JR Penn              1:48.79    1:48.29   24  
                 25.41        52.97 (27.56)
        1:20.74 (27.77)     1:48.29 (27.55)
  7 Kaczorowski, Margot    JR Penn              1:48.48    1:48.73   23  
                 25.39        52.74 (27.35)
        1:20.75 (28.01)     1:48.73 (27.98)
  8 Leko, Mia              JR Dartmouth         1:47.96    1:49.29   22  
                 25.28        52.73 (27.45)
        1:20.81 (28.08)     1:49.29 (28.48)

 Event 12  Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M   58.44  2013      Katie Meili (Columbia)
  Pool Record: P   59.64  2012      Katie Meili (Columbia)
   NCAA A Std: A   58.46
   NCAA B Std: B 1:01.84
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Denisenko, Aleksandra  FR Harvard           1:01.57    1:00.96B  32  
                 28.67      1:00.96 (32.29)
  2 Buckley, Marykate      JR Yale              1:02.48    1:01.69B  28  
                 28.74      1:01.69 (32.95)
  3 Franks, Ava            FR Yale              1:02.32    1:01.96   27  
                 28.66      1:01.96 (33.30)
  4 McDonald, Margaux      SO Princeton         1:02.21    1:02.48   26  
                 30.09      1:02.48 (32.39)
  5 Maizes, Rachel         SR Penn              1:02.50    1:02.76   25  
                 29.56      1:02.76 (33.20)
  6 Pytel, Isabella        FR Penn              1:02.77    1:02.88   24  
                 29.39      1:02.88 (33.49)
  7 Estabrook, Grace       SR Penn              1:02.46    1:03.07   23  
                 29.54      1:03.07 (33.53)
  8 Willhite, Kellie       SO Brown             1:02.88    1:03.20   22  
                 29.51      1:03.20 (33.69)

 Event 13  Women 100 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
  Meet Record: M 52.34  2019      Bella Hindley (Yale)
  Pool Record: P 52.45  2018      Heidi Vanderwel (Yale)
   NCAA A Std: A 50.93
   NCAA B Std: B 53.94
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Reznicek, Jenna        FR Brown               52.43      52.94B  32  
                 25.14        52.94 (27.80)
  2 Korbly, Isabella       FR Princeton           53.85      53.88B  28  
                 25.83        53.88 (28.05)
  3 Wagner, Lindsey        SO Yale                54.66      54.36   27  
                 26.21        54.36 (28.15)
  4 Hamlin, Molly          FR Harvard             54.25      54.38   26  
                 26.89        54.38 (27.49)
  5 Kannan, Hannah         SR Penn                53.76      54.42   25  
                 26.07        54.42 (28.35)
  6 Murphy, Quinn          FR Yale                54.72      54.54   24  
                 26.44        54.54 (28.10)
  7 Pappas, Alexa          FR Princeton           55.04      55.23   23  
                 26.49        55.23 (28.74)
  8 Bullock, Addie Rose    SO Harvard             55.20      55.30   22  
                 26.80        55.30 (28.50)

 Event 14  Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
  Meet Record: M 3:32.72  2020      Harvard
                          F. Pasadyn, J. Yegher, M. Dahlke, K. Quist
  Pool Record: P 3:34.22  2018      Yale
                          H. Vanderwel, C. O'Leary, M. Zimmerman, B. Hindley
   NCAA A Std: A 3:31.66
   NCAA B Std: B 3:33.78
    School                                 Seed     Finals Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Harvard                             3:40.88    3:35.82   64  
     1) Pasadyn, Felicia SR           2) Denisenko, Aleksandra FR     
     3) Carr, Abigail FR              4) Brenner, Mandy FR            
                 25.49        53.42 (53.42)
        1:21.83 (28.41)   1:54.23 (1:00.81)
        2:18.29 (24.06)     2:46.42 (52.19)
        3:09.35 (22.93)     3:35.82 (49.40)
  2 Yale                                3:37.49    3:36.10   56  
     1) Wagner, Lindsey SO            2) Buckley, Marykate JR         
     3) Massey, Alexandra FR          4) Henig, Iszac JR              
                 26.28        54.20 (54.20)
        1:22.80 (28.60)   1:55.76 (1:01.56)
        2:20.40 (24.64)     2:48.79 (53.03)
        3:11.58 (22.79)     3:36.10 (47.31)
  3 Princeton                           3:39.60    3:38.63   54  
     1) Korbly, Isabella FR           2) McDonald, Margaux SO         
     3) Venema, Nikki JR              4) Bradley, Christina JR        
                 26.49        54.04 (54.04)
        1:23.23 (29.19)   1:56.70 (1:02.66)
        2:20.86 (24.16)     2:48.62 (51.92)
        3:12.32 (23.70)     3:38.63 (50.01)
  4 Brown                               3:43.62    3:41.72   52  
     1) Reznicek, Jenna FR            2) Lukawski, Audrey SR          
     3) Chidley, Nell JR              4) Scott, Samantha SO           
                 25.96        54.62 (54.62)
        1:24.01 (29.39)   1:57.84 (1:03.22)
        2:23.00 (25.16)     2:51.94 (54.10)
        3:15.42 (23.48)     3:41.72 (49.78)
  5 Penn                                3:40.97    3:41.87   50  
     1) Kannan, Hannah SR             2) Estabrook, Grace SR          
     3) Chong, Vanessa FR             4) Thomas, Lia SR               
                 26.89        54.49 (54.49)
        1:24.29 (29.80)   1:57.35 (1:02.86)
        2:22.89 (25.54)     2:52.04 (54.69)
        3:16.06 (24.02)     3:41.87 (49.83)
  6 Columbia                            3:46.55    3:44.25   48  
     1) Ganihanova, Aziza SO          2) Walker, Allegra SO           
     3) Wang, Emily SR                4) Macdonald, Emily FR          
                 27.23        56.19 (56.19)
        1:25.47 (29.28)   1:59.33 (1:03.14)
        2:24.30 (24.97)     2:53.89 (54.56)
        3:17.90 (24.01)     3:44.25 (50.36)
  7 Dartmouth                           3:51.77    3:45.35   46  
     1) Howley, Mary FR               2) Van Steyn, Kenna SR          
     3) Leko, Mia JR                  4) Post, Ashley JR              
                 27.45        56.11 (56.11)
        1:26.73 (30.62)   2:01.86 (1:05.75)
        2:26.85 (24.99)     2:55.77 (53.91)
        3:19.27 (23.50)     3:45.35 (49.58)
  8 Cornell                             3:50.79    3:48.25   44  
     1) Munoz, Aviva JR               2) Wu, Amy SO                   
     3) Gruvberger, Anna SO           4) Wongso, Priscilla SO         
                 27.55        57.02 (57.02)
        1:27.01 (29.99)   2:01.77 (1:04.75)
        2:27.70 (25.93)     2:57.85 (56.08)
        3:21.65 (23.80)     3:48.25 (50.40)
 
                     Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 14                     
 
  1. Harvard University             1020.5   2. Yale University                   813
  3. University of Pennsylvania        808   4. Princeton University              754
  5. Brown University                  617   6. Columbia University             478.5
  7. Dartmouth College                 409   8. Cornell University                338

30 Comments

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Billy

2 years ago

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Thomas is SANDBAGGING “her” swims. He can swim much faster but won’t so he does not hurt his chances of swimming at the NCAA Women’s Championships. Any clear minded swim fan can see this and this meet is turning into a gigantic farce. Need I say more? I don’t think so.

Susan

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

So true Billy.

XX SWIMMING ONLY - NOT XY

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

Can see it with the stroke rate and no kicks, especially in the 200 leadoff leg of the 800 relay. I still cannot believe that no significant women swimmers (ex-Olympians, NCAA champions, etc.) have spoken out against this travesty of “woke”-fairness that basically sinks Title IX. What next, an Ivy League coach recruiting a dolphin or porpoise with good SAT scores that identifies as a woman?

Emma

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

This is a ridiculous and unfair situation. We all want equality for all. This is NOT equality.

2 years ago

Alex Walsh swam faster at the ACC Championships than Lia Thomas did at her conference meet – and within 0.5 sec of what Lia Thomas swam a few months ago.

Game ON y’all.

Susan

2 years ago

Reply to AC

Lia Thomas is not even in the same
league as Alex Walsh. Come on! She was mediocre as a male swimmer. And now as a female swimmer on the same level as a Alex Walsh?? Give me a break! If Missy’s record is to be broken in the 200, it should be broken by a a biological female swimmer as amazing as Alex Walsh! Not by a transgender female with all of her male advantages!

Heather

2 years ago

Reply to Susan

Absolutely agree. This is a farce, and history will not look kindly on those who are perpetrating it.

XX Swimming - Not XY

2 years ago

Reply to AC

Thomas is coasting right now though. Thomas purposely swam the leadoff leg of the 800 free relay to match Yale’s transgender swimmer. The next day, magically Thomas swam 200 free 2 seconds faster while also sandbagging. If Thomas swam as fast as ‘she’ did when racing male for UPenn, there is no chance any woman wins.

Laurie

2 years ago

Lia is a male and will never be a female. The whole transgender ideology is trying to force society to believe in a lie! No human can change sex.

Season

2 years ago

Yay! Lea ranked #1 and another victory for her. She is showing the world that Trans athletes like her and Izzi Henig of Yale belong. And this isn’t new; NCAA had trans winners in Track and Field at least as early as 2019. This is breaking down another barrier of elitist segregation that seeks to keep the best, strongest and fastest out; whether they be poor blacks or trans it is all the same to the transphobic and racists – “not in my pool” mentality. End the segregation and bracket them by ability instead of segregation based on sexist and racist barriers. Go Lia! go Izzi!

-8

Billy

2 years ago

Reply to Season

Lia is a man and always will be. XX versus XX females and XY versus XY. Chromosomes don’t lie. Name the NCAA trans winners, I follow track and Field at the D1 level and I sure as heck can’t name one. Lia Thomas belongs… in the Men’s competitions. Elitist segregation in sports? You need a mental check up.

Season

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

CeCé Telfer is a Jamaican-American athlete who, in 2019, became the first openly transgender person to win an NCAA title.[2][3] While a student athlete at Franklin Pierce University, Telfer first competed without success in the men’s division from 2016 to 2017 but after coming out and beginning transition, Telfer was allowed to compete in the women’s division. Telfer eventually took first place in the 400-meter hurdles event in June 2019.

Direlda

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

So an intersex individual with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) who was born with XY chromosomes, female external genitalia, and no ability to utilize testosterone should compete in the Men’s competitions? Sure, such individuals are a very small percentage of the population, but what happens if someone with CAIS decides to be a swimmer and chromosomes are what are used to determine team placement?

-1

No Thank You

2 years ago

Reply to Season

Lia’s a cheater. End of story. Humans can’t change sex.

Baron K

2 years ago

Let transgender compete with other transgenders! It is totally unfair to female athletes, especially in swimming.

Season

2 years ago

Reply to Baron K

Pft. I suppose you would want an NBA and NFL for whites only so they get play time. Segregation is the problem and not the solution. Bracket by ability regardless of sex or race. colleges are offering athletic scholarships to trans BIPOCs to both hit quotas and win championships. Get used to it. It is for a more diverse, inclusive and equitable society.

-5

No Thank You

2 years ago

Reply to Season

Humans can’t change sex. It has nothing to do with skin color. You keep trying to accuse people of bigotry because the facts don’t back you up and you know it. Keep it up! You’re helping more people reach peak trans with every comment!

Terry

2 years ago

Reply to Season

You are promoting misogyny.

Neuromancer

2 years ago

Why are the Ivy league female swimmers accepting this?
If it was me I with withdraw from any race Lia Thomas entered. Let him swim alone.

Not right

2 years ago

Reply to Neuromancer

That’s what I’ve been saying from the beginning ?

SETH

2 years ago

“Negative Split Suggests Holding Back”

John Lohn, and many of the above commenters, are trafficking in conspiracy theories and apparently believe that they can read Ms. Thomas’s mind and know her intentions.

Negative splitting is a strategy that many swimmers utilize. Your conscious bias is showing.

-1

2 years ago

Reply to SETH

Negative splits are sub optimal.

So he’s either sandbagging or he’s dumb (and still winning).

SETH

2 years ago

Reply to k

ok k

Bill

2 years ago

Reply to SETH

Amen Seth.

-1

Boisen Gerls

2 years ago

What does gender mean and what does sex mean? I think we have become confused. Lia Thomas is a born-male who identifies with the female gender. He has altered the way he looks and the way he lives and is now addressed as ‘she’. That’s Lia’s gender preference.

Lia was born with male genitals. Having gone through puberty, growth and sex hormones have helped to form the athlete that Lia is today. She may be addressed, with respect, to the gender that she identifies with, but she possesses the physical and even mental characteristics from the sex she was born as.

Lia is not a woman, although she identifies with the female gender. As such, her participation in women’s sports…may appear to be a progression of respect for gender identification, is in fact depriving the glory that would otherwise be obtained by completely natural women. That is where the crux is.

In this country, no one can tell you that you can’t be a certain way as it pertains to your own life. However, the rights of one stop when they infringe on the rights of others.

The solution is a transgender category, just as there exists multiple categories for those who participate in Paralympics. There can be a place for everyone in this picture. It simply should not come at the expense of others’ rightfully earned accomplishments and recognition. “Your rights end where my nose begins”.

Emma

2 years ago

Reply to Boisen Gerls

Totally agree. Imagine if more and more trans athletes enter womens sport. The athletes born female may as well give up!

OceanSpirit

2 years ago

His win is not legitimate and I don’t recognize it as one. CONGRATULATIONS, Samantha Shelton, the only WOMAN who came in first place!!!

Pintsized

2 years ago

Yes because she is a man inside. Doesn’t matter what she looks like on the outside in a sport like this she is ways going to be faster than the girls. It’s just not fair. You can’t change some things.

The greatest

2 years ago

This represents stupidity. Before you censor me on this remeber i see myself as the greatest commenter of all times and protector of the truth. If you disgree, you’re a biggot transprofessionohobe that does not respect my rights.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Sports should be categorized by biological sex. Allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports is an Injustice to women athletes. No amount of hormones or lack thereof is going to make LIA a biological female. This madness is unacceptable to every single biological female swimmer competing with zero chance of winning.