Opinion | The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect Sarah Palin's view.
Lia Thomas became a national NCAA swimming champion after switching to the women’s team at Yale in the fall of 2021. While competing on the men’s team for three years, Thomas was ranked in 554th place in the 200-yard freestyle.
Thomas’ swimming career may be coming to an abrupt end as the International Swimming Federation (FINA) has banned the vast majority of biological males from competing in women’s events on the world stage. In the new policy, transgender swimmers must “have completed their transition by age 12 to be able to compete.”
The governing body of swimming voted for a new policy by an overwhelming 71.5 percent. The governing board also clarified that they do not support early childhood transitioning. (Trending: CNN’s Response To Joe Biden’s Corruption Is Jaw-Dropping)
James Pearce, the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, said, “This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” Pearce added.
“They’re not saying everyone should transition by age 11, that’s ridiculous. You can’t transition by that age in most countries and, hopefully, you wouldn’t be encouraged to,” he continued. “Basically, what they’re saying is that it is not feasible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage.”
Thomas, who is a 6’1″ biological male, won the women’s 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship in the 500-yard freestyle. FINA announced plans to establish a new “open” category of competition to include transgender women, according to president Husain Al-Musallam. However, it’s unclear whether Thomas will agree to compete in this category.
Mayo Clinic doctor Michael Joyner and prominent physiologist Ross Tucker say Lia Thomas has a biological edge over competitors. Tucker also believes no amount of hormone therapy can properly mitigate the physical benefits of Thomas’ birth gender to any relevant extent.
Both experts say testosterone is the deciding factor. Joyner explained, “Even though Thomas took testosterone suppressants, which are required by the NCAA, she still has an unfair advantage over the biological females she swims against. There are social aspects to sport, but physiology and biology underpin it. Testosterone is the 800-pound gorilla,” Joyner continued.
Thomas has responded to backlash by insisting, “I am a woman, just like anybody else on the team. I’ve always viewed myself as just a swimmer. It’s what I’ve done for so long; it’s what I love. I get into the water every day and do my best.”
Even though Lia has undergone “testosterone suppression” for one year prior to joining the women’s team, as the NCAA policy requires, this does not reverse the impact of nearly 20 years of presumably normal male testosterone levels. The NCAA’s policy fails to address this problem. (Trending: Fauci Gets The Worst News of His Career)
A number of prominent public figures have weighed on the controversy. Nationally televised cardiothoracic surgeon and university professor Dr. Oz has spoken out about the issue.
Michael Phelps, who is the decorated Olympian of all time, expressed concerns about transgender swimmers competing against athletes with a different biological gender.
Former Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Caitlyn Jenner argued that University of Virginia swimmer Emma Weyant, who came in second place behind Thomas, is the rightful champion of the swimming event. With six simple words, Jenner said, “Agreed! She is the rightful winner!”
@GovRonDeSantis agreed! She is the rightful winner! @TMZ It’s not transphobic or anti-trans, it’s COMMON SENSE! https://t.co/RuWBikgWPx
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) March 22, 2022
Speaking to TMZ, Jenner explained, “It’s not transphobic or anti-trans, it’s COMMON SENSE!”
“I’ve said from the beginning, biological boys should not be playing in women’s sports. We need to protect women’s sports,” Jenner said. “[Lia Thomas] is also not good for women’s sports. It’s unfortunate that this is happening. I don’t know why she’s doing it.”
“She knows when she’s swimming she’s beating the competition by two laps. She was born as a biological boy. She was raised as a biological boy. Her cardiovascular system is bigger. Her respiratory system is bigger,” Jenner continued. “Her hands are bigger. She can swim faster. That’s a known. All of this is woke world that we’re living in right now is not working.”
“I feel sorry for the other athletes that are out there, especially at Penn or anyone she’s competing against, because in the woke world you have to say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is great.’ No it’s not,” Jenner concluded.
