University Of Pennsylvania Nominates Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas For 2022 NCAA Woman Of The Year Award

Lia Thomas Nominated For 2022 NCAA Woman Of The Year Award By University Of Pennsylvania

Swimmer Lia Thomas, who became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship this year, has been nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

According to the Washington Examiner, Lia, 22, was one of 577 graduating student-athletes from Divisions I, II and II to be nominated for the award.

She was nominated by the University of Pennsylvania, from which she graduated in May.

 

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The Woman of the Year award recognizes female student-athletes “who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers.”

Last month, world swimming’s governing body banned transgender women from competing in women’s events.

FINA members widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” on Sunday that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events. The organization also proposed an “open competition category.”

“This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, who is the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press.