22.03 / 20:43
information
Transgender
Ron DeSantis Rejects Lia Thomas Win As A 'Lie', Honors Second Place Instead
Ron DeSantis is refusing to recognize transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' NCAA win last week and said the state is choosing to honor runner-up and Sarasota-native Emma Weyant as the winner of the 500-yard freestyle instead.On Tuesday, the governor issued a proclamation declaring Weyant as the "rightful winner" of the race, saying that the NCAA's decision to allow the University of Pennsylvania's Thomas to compete and win "erode opportunities for women athletes and perpetuate a fraud against women athletes."Thomas made history on Thursday as the first known transgender athlete to win a division one national championship after beating Weyant by 1.75 seconds.Weyant, who is a freshman at the University of Virginia, swam her fastest career time during the championship and the third-fastest time in UVA history, according to the college."By allowing men to compete in women's sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud," DeSantis tweeted.