A rival collegiate swimmer to Lia Thomas is not happy over the news for being nominated for a prestigious reward.
Thomas, a female swimmer at Penn, previously competed for the men’s team. She would soon transition to the women’s side and start dominating. Thomas became the first trans woman to win titles at the Ivy League and NCAA championships.
This month, Thomas was nominated for the NCAA 2022 Woman of the Year award.
Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was not thrilled with that decision.
“Being the real girl in that photo and also University of Kentucky’s nominee for NCAA WOTY, this is yet another slap in the face to women. First a female national title and now nominated for the pinnacle award in collegiate athletics. The NCAA has made this award worthless,” she wrote.
“This award combines athletic performance with academics, service, and character. What character has Thomas shown other than sheer selfishness and entitlement? The disrespect and disregard for the other female athletes in Thomas’ interviews is eye-opening.”
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In March, Thomas finished first in the women’s 500-yard freestyle, becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA division one title.
Gaines previously showed her support for the ‘Transgender Girl Athletics Ban’ in the State which just recently went into effect as law.
This is what Gaines had to say back in April after State lawmakers voted to override Governor Beshear’s veto on the bill.
“I’ve received, obviously, some backlash, calling me transphobic and things like that but I think the people saying these things are completely missing my point and my argument because I always want to be respectful of everyone, no matter who you are, and by no means am I saying that transgender athletes should not compete”
The woman of the year will be named at January’s NCAA convention.
