Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas Is Barred From Competing In The Paris Olympics

Thomas, 25, rose to national prominence in 2022 by winning the NCAA women’s 500-yard freestyle by a significant margin due to being 6'4 and having male musculature argued that the World Aquatics’ rules preventing men from competing against women are "invalid and unlawful." However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the ban, effectively ending Thomas' goal to take the Olympic victory from a female swimmer.

USA Today reported, "The panel of arbitrators determined that Thomas did not have standing to challenge the policy created by swimming's international federation, World Aquatics. The CAS panel found that "for the time being" she is not eligible to compete in elite competitions through World Aquatics or USA Swimming, so the policy does not apply to her.

"She is currently only entitled to compete in USA Swimming events that do not qualify as 'Elite Events,'" according to the arbitral award."

World Aquatics proposed the creation of “open category” races for transgender competitors, but Thomas thus far is only interested in competing against women. Probably because before identifying as a woman at age 21, Thomas was an average male swimmer.

One of Thomas' former teammates, Paula Scanlan, celebrated the official acknowledgment that Thomas is a male with unfair athletic advantages but she also asked when she would be receiving an apology from the officials who forced her and other women to undress in front of Thomas 18 times.

As a victim of sexual assault, Scanlan found the situation particularly traumatizing, but trans activists continue to put the preferences of men over women.

For now, the federation's ruling is a win for women and girls. Let's hope others in women's sports will follow their lead.

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