On November 29, SpaceXMania published a satire that says the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will transfer Lia Thomas’ medals to Riley Gaines. This article gained over 70,000 likes and 6,000 comments.
People in the comment section expressed approval of the decision, supported Gaines, and questioned the institution’s policy to allow transwomen to enter the 2022 NCAA Women’s Championships.
Although the article was satirical, this reflects the public’s perception of the NCAA gender-inclusion policy.
The institution faced backlash when University of Kentucky swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines slammed the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete against her in the 200-yard freestyle category.
“The female athletes who objected to Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming were told to remain silent,” said Gaines. “Lia Thomas was not a one-off. Across the country and various sports, female athletes are losing not only titles and awards to males but also roster spots and opportunities to compete.”
During the event, Riley recalled how Thomas who still very much has male public parts, was so “well-endowed that she had to ‘refrain from looking’ at her crotch in the locker room they shared at a race meet.” She also said that it took them by surprise as the NCAA management did not even inform the swimmers that they would be sharing the shower with a transgender woman.
‘We can’t unsee it. Being in that space with a male, it’s like a bad car wreck.’
Thomas joined the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team after competing for three years on the men’s squad.
It’s neither safe nor fair for women, declared Gaines.
She added, “‘I think even using the term trans woman is giving Thomas some of our language as women.”
“I think trans woman is a subset of male. I do not believe trans women are women.”
Gaines thinks biological males’ strength and endurance make competition with women unfair – and her view has stirred controversy.
In 2022, Thomas’ rank shifted from 65th in the male category into 1st in the 500-yard freestyle and 5th for women in the 200-yard freestyle.
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan shared the same sentiments with Gaines, she “had nightmares for weeks” after sharing a locker room with Thomas.
The former University of Kentucky swimmer recently testified in support of House Bill 68. The bill aims to prevent trans athletes from joining Ohio women’s sports and prohibit doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth.
Riley shared how she finished the freestyle competition at 1:43.40 the same as Thomas but the NCAA decides that the trophy belonged to the transwomen, claiming “it was necessary for public relations.”
The bill also prohibits physicians from providing gender reassignment and puberty blockers to minors.
Nineteen people submitted proponent testimony and some talked about the physical differences between men and women.
“Science tells us that, on average, male bodies have about a 10% athletic advantage over female bodies,” said May Mailman, a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Law Center.
A former USA Swimming official also resigned in protest over Thomas’ victory. Cynthia Millen shared her testimony during the committee meeting, “Everything in swimming is based on fairness. … it just went against everything that I had ever loved about swimming.”
For the transgender swimmer, Thomas continues to rake championships. In March 2022, Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle. She became the first trans woman to claim a national title in swimming and became a symbol of trans athletes, all while subduing biological women swimmers.
The International Swimming Federation members widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events.
The organization also proposed an “open competition category.”
Gaines said during the meeting, “The inclusion of male athletes in women’s sports not only takes opportunities from female players.“
“It puts women and girls at greater risk of injury.”
