Lia Thomas

Lia Thomas holds a unique position in the world of collegiate sports. Originally from Austin, Texas, Thomas began her swimming journey at age five, demonstrating an innate aptitude for the sport. Her passion for swimming continued into her academic years, leading her to join the men's swim team at the University of Pennsylvania in 2017. In the following years, Thomas significantly impacted events such as the 1,000-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, and 1,650-yard freestyle, with her performance ranking within the national top 100.

In May 2019, Thomas began transitioning using hormone replacement therapy and came out as a trans woman during her junior year. Despite losing muscle mass and strength through testosterone suppression, Thomas significantly improved her swimming performance. Her success in distance swimming was particularly noteworthy during the 2021-22 season, and she ranked fifth in the 200 freestyle, first in the 500 freestyle, and eighth in the 1650 freestyle when competing on the women's team. Thomas' dedication and resilience made her the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport by winning the women's 500-yard freestyle in March 2022.

Thomas' achievement sparked a public debate about transgender women in women's sports, in which she became a central figure. Despite facing scrutiny and backlash, Thomas received support from various corners of the swimming community, including her teammates and Olympic medalists. Her story has been featured in numerous news articles and interviews, highlighting her journey as a transgender swimmer. Aiming to broaden her impact beyond swimming, Thomas aspires to attend law school and pursue a career as a civil rights attorney, continuing her advocacy for inclusion and equality.