Critics Blast UPenn Nominating Lia Thomas for NCAA Woman of the Year Award
newsweek.comemerged as a star swimmer for the college this year, becoming the first trans athlete to win a NCAA Division I title in March after finishing first in the women's 500-yard freestyle championship.However, her success has sparked debate about how to fairly include transgender women on women's athletic teams.
Critics have argued Thomas, who transitioned in 2019, has an unfair advantage over her cisgender teammates and should be required to compete on the men's team.
Her supporters, on the other hand, say trans women competing on the team of the gender they identify with is important to validate their identity and should not be an issue since Thomas meets the NCAA's criteria for trans women athletes.The NCAA announced on Friday the more than 240 nominations for its 2022 Woman of the Year award.
Thomas was included on the list, prompting some of her critics to take to social media to express their disdain over her nomination."I support inclusion and equality in sports.
