Trans UPenn Swimmer Lia Thomas Finally Defeated - by Another Transgender
Yale swimmer, Iszac Henig, beats controversial 'female' swimming 'champion'
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Lia Thomas, the controversial biological-male trans UPenn swimmer, has finally been defeated in the women's 100-yard freestyle - by another transgender athlete.
Thomas lost the race to transgender Yale competitor Iszac Henig after a string of nearly unopposed victories in women's competition.
Thomas is a man who "identifies" as a "woman" while Henig is a woman "transitioning" to become a "man."
The swimming "champion" suffered the loss at UPenn’s tri-meet with the Yale and Dartmouth swim teams.
Despite the loss in the 100-yard race, Thomas crushed the female competition in both the 200-year and 500-yard freestyle, according to the Daily Mail.
“Stunned parents at the meet held at UPenn’s pool in Philadelphia gasped as Yale swimmer Iszac Henig easily beat out [her] opponents in the women’s 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.57 seconds,” noted the Mail.
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"Thomas finished fifth with a time of 52.84 seconds," the report adds.
Though Henig had her breasts removed, she reportedly delayed hormone treatments to compete in women’s swimming.
"As a student-athlete, coming out as a trans guy put me in a weird position,” Henig wrote in the New York Times last June.
"I could start hormones to align more with myself, or wait, transition socially and keep competing on a women’s swim team.
"I decided on the latter.
“I value my contributions to the team and recognize that my boyhood doesn’t hinge on whether there’s more or less testosterone running through my veins,” Henig continued.
“At least, that’s what I’ll try to remember when I put on the women’s swimsuit for the competition and am reminded of a self I no longer feel attached to.”
Amazingly PROUD of our @YaleSwimDive student-athlete Izzi Henig for sharing his story with the world.#ThisIsYale | #Pride https://t.co/cPOwTuHUnT
— Yale Athletics (@YaleAthletics) June 29, 2021
Henig’s specialty in the pool is freestyle and butterfly.
Thomas’ blazing pace in the pool drew scrutiny from those questioning whether transgender athletes should compete against biological males rather than females.
Thomas received support from the Ivy League and Penn earlier in the week.
"Over the past several years, Lia and the University of Pennsylvania worked with the NCAA to follow all of the appropriate protocols in order to comply with the NCAA policy on transgender athlete participation and compete on the Penn women’s swimming and diving team," the conference said in a statement Thursday.
"The Ivy League has adopted and applies the same NCAA policy."
"The Ivy League reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive environment for all student-athletes while condemning transphobia and discrimination in any form.
"The league welcomes her participation in the sport of women’s swimming and diving and looks forward to celebrating the success of all of our student-athletes throughout the season."
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Penn Athletics also put out a statement.
"Penn Athletics is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our student-athletes, coaches and staff, and we hold true to that commitment today and in the future," the school said.
"As a member of the NCAA, Penn is governed by the policies of the national governing body.
"Lia Thomas has met or exceeded all NCAA protocols over the past two years for a transgender female student-athlete to compete for a women’s team.
"She will continue to represent the Penn women’s swimming team in competition this season.
"We fully support all the student-athletes and coaches in our swimming and diving program and look forward to the team’s continued success this season."
