Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas Wins Women’s 500-Yard NCAA Title: Caitlin Jenner Responds

Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, won the NCAA championships in the 500-yard race on Thursday.

Thomas defeated Virginia freshman Emma Weyant by 1.75 seconds with a time of 4:33.24.

Thomas swam for three years at Penn as a male before transitioning, sat out a year while undergoing testosterone suppression treatment and returned to compete as a woman.

She will also compete in the 200-yard and 100-yard NCAA championships later this week.

Since Thanksgiving, Thomas has been swimming at a rate that suggested she would likely win national titles. She won the Ivy League title in the 500-yard, setting a record at Harvard’s Blodgett Pool in the process in February.

Thomas has come under considerable controversy, as a number of observers have questioned the fairness of an athlete who was born as a biological male competing against women. The NCAA made new regulations about transgender athletes during this season, and essentially left eligibility up to individual sports.