Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas hasn’t spoken publicly very often about her record-breaking season, but she recently opened up to Sports Illustrated.
Thomas, who previously competed for the Penn men’s team, has been dominant inside of the pool for the women’s team. She’s set to compete at the NCAA Championships later this month.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Thomas opened up about her season and her decision to come out as transgender. She revealed that she first began to question her gender identity in high school. Thomas became depressed early on during her time at Penn, before undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy.
“I just want to show trans kids and younger trans athletes that they’re not alone,” she told Sports Illustrated. “They don’t have to choose between who they are and the sport they love.”
SI sat down for an exclusive interview with Penn’s Lia Thomas, the woman at the heart of the debate over transgender athletes.
“I am here to swim,” she told @MileHighRobert https://t.co/aj5lgk7kdo pic.twitter.com/JR8eQK7aip
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 3, 2022
Thomas is unclear what her future holds.
“I don’t know exactly what the future of my swimming will look like after this year, but I would love to continue doing it,” Thomas says. “I want to swim and compete as who I am.”
Sports fans have taken to social media to react to her honest admissions.
“So much respect to Lia Thomas for navigating a nationwide hate campaign with class. The right has terrorized her because they believe she and other trans athletes are a launch pad for extreme actions like what we’re seeing in Texas,” one fan tweeted.
So much respect to Lia Thomas for navigating a nationwide hate campaign with class. The right has terrorized her because they believe she and other trans athletes are a launch pad for extreme actions like what we’re seeing in Texas.https://t.co/kUxUNje4S2
— Gillian Branstetter (@GBBranstetter) March 3, 2022
This story on @PennSwimDive’s Lia Thomas (her first interview in months) humanizes the dysphoria and vitriol she has navigated both this year and before. When her body felt like it was holding her back, swimming was a salve. https://t.co/dkpXXiKn1E
— Laine Higgins (@lainehiggins17) March 3, 2022
From the Lia Thomas story, this is one of the most relatable moments. I still can’t get old training times out of my head when I go for runs. Its very hard to let go! But when you do, its so freeing. https://t.co/B6dRnNSRuD pic.twitter.com/IpyhD1lAjM
— Sydney Bauer (@femme_thoughts) March 3, 2022
Thomas is set to compete at the NCAA Championships later this month. She’s a favorite in a number of freestyle events.
The post Lia Thomas Opens Up About Her Season: Sports World Reacts appeared first on The Spun.