Lia Thomas transgender debate has been on the internet for quite some time. She has sparked several discussions about transgender athletes and their unfair advantage in sports.
Lia Thomas is an American swimmer famous for being the first openly transgender athlete to win any sport’s NCAA Division I championship.
She did so after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle event in March 2022.
Lia grew up in Austin, Texas, with her older brother. She studied at Westlake High School and was sixth in the state swimming championship.
She started attending the University of Pennsylvania in 2017 and graduated in 2022.
While at Penn University, Lia initially competed in men’s swimming events as William Thomas, but after identifying herself as a transgender woman, she competed in women’s events.
The swimmer plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a civil rights attorney.
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Is Lia Thomas Transgender? Has She Done Bottom Surgery?
Yes, Lia Thomas is a transgender woman. The American is the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship.
Lia was born a man and competed in male events some years ago. Her birth name is William Thomas.
However, toward the end of high school, she began questioning her gender identity.
Lia Thomas is a transgender swimmer who plays in women’s events. (Source: Instagram)
During the summer of 2018, after her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas came out as transgender to her family.
Then she changed her name to Lia Catherine Thomas and identified as a transgender woman.
She started using her new name in 2020 and said that it was sort of a rebirth that she feels fully connected to her new name.
The transgender athlete has smashed several women’s swimming records in her career.
She has also sparked a nationwide debate about including transgender athletes in regular girls’ sporting events.
Regarding bottom surgery, it is unclear whether Lia Thomas had any surgery to shape her bottom.
It was reported she had started using hormonal medications after she came out as a transgender to transition to a woman.
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Lia Thomas Transgender Debate- Unfair Advantage?
Lia Thomas has been in the middle of a massive controversy and debate about the unfair advantage of transgender athletes.
In December 2021, anonymous parents of the University of Pennsylvania swimming team members wrote to the NCAA, remarking that Thomas must be declared ineligible to compete.
The same month, USA Swimming official Cynthia Millen resigned to protest Thomas’ competing eligibility.
The case of Lia Thomas was covered by several top news outlets such as Fox News, The Washington Post, and many others.
The Washington Post wrote that Lia has shattered school records and is the favorite at the NCAA championship, despite the debate over her place on the pool deck.
During her time as a men’s swimmer, William Thomas was ranked #462.
However, Lia Thomas is the #1 women’s swimmer after transitioning to female competition.
Lia Thomas has polarized opinions as she jumped from #462 male swimmer to #1 female swimmer. (Source: Instagram)
Supporting Lia were several organizations affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and the Ivy League.
More than 300 collegiate swimmers wrote an anonymous letter supporting Lia and all transgender athletes.
Olympic Silver medalists Brooke Ford and Erica Sullivan also rallied support for Lia’s inclusion in the women’s competition.
Lia was named the most controversial athlete in America by Sports Illustrated, and CNN called her the face of the debate on transgender women in sports.
Many states issued laws to prevent transgender school girls from competing in girls’ sports.
Lia has been in the crosshair of several misogyny and transphobic statements.
The debate over transgender athletes competing in regular girls’ sports never ends.
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Categories: Athlete
Source: asian.edu.vn
