Thomas was an elite distance swimmer in high school and continued performing at a high level at U. Penn. Others were quick to pile on against the absurdity of a man dominating his female competition in a competitive event reserved for women. NCAA rules allow male athletes to compete in the women's division so long as they have a year of HRT under their belts, and with a . Top Times / Event Rank Search. Formerly ranking at number 462 in the men's event, Thomas beat two Tokyo silver medalists to take home top spot at last week's final. When she swims at the NCAA Women's Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, which begin March 16 in Atlanta, Thomas is a favorite to win individual titles in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle . Penn Swimmer Who Competed As A Male For Three Seasons Now Dominating ... She finished the race in 4:33.24, beating . The Trans Swimmer Who Won Too Much | The New Yorker Thomas was a good swimmer for the men's team, posting the Quakers' best times. Mar 18, 2019 at 12:42 pm ET • 1 min read. Penn Campus Recreation. ATLANTA — Lia Thomas took off the oversized jacket with "PENN" on the back, revealing her long arms and broad shoulders, and stepped onto the platform to be introduced before the 500-yard . University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas made history Thursday by becoming the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming competition in Division I. However, Lia Thomas entered NCAA Champs ranked No. Female swimmers beaten by transgender athlete stage podium protest at ... A joke was told in Atlanta . Lia Thomas, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, set an Ivy League record for fastest 200-yard freestyle Friday evening to earn her second victory at the Ivy . After starting hormone . Transgender college swimmer who swam as a male for 3 years now crushing ... Left Sidebar. Defending Thomas was Malcolm Harris, editor of The New Inquiry, who said that the swimmer deserved "congratulations not scrutiny.". Lia Thomas' victory at NCAA swimming finals sparks fierce debate over ... Meet Lia Thomas , ranked #1 in women's swimming. New York Times science reporter Azeen Ghorayshi got attention this week for her report on Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, the transgender athlete who has fueled a national debate over whether transgender . Check his then photos below. Lia Thomas is not the first trans swimmer in the N.C.A.A., but her victories have put her at the center of a debate about trans athletes.