A UPenn swimmer is accusing her trans teammate Lia Thomas, of plotting to lose to a transgender Yale swimmer in a relay heat ‘to prove that a woman can beat her.’
A biological female member of The University of Pennsylvania women’s swimming team told Outkick.com that she believes her teammate, Lia Thomas, 22, who is transitioning from a male to a female, colluded with Yale transgender swimmer Iszac Henig during a 100-freestyle race on January 8. Henig, who is currently transitioning from female-to-male gender, has postponed hormone therapy in order to be eligible for the women’s team.
Henig, a 20-year-old California native who’s transitioning from female to male, defeated Thomas in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 49.57, more than three seconds ahead of Thomas, who finished sixth with a time of 52.84.
Henig, who has been part of Yale’s women’s team for three seasons, decided not to take hormones during his transition. He is now eligible to continue on the female squad. In April 2021, he came to the coaches and his teammates. However, if he took any hormones, he would be ineligible.
“I was a student athlete and coming out as transgender put me in an awkward position. There are two options: I can either take hormones and align myself more, or I can wait and transition socially while continuing to compete on the women’s swimming team. He wrote that he chose the latter in an opinion piece in the New York Times published July.
Thomas, who had been a member of the UPenn women’s swim team for three seasons before joining this year’s women’s team. This caused controversy as she broke many long-held records. Thomas (formerly Will) is competing in swimming meets for the first time as transgender women.
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Lia Thomas is pictured at lane 2 (far right), while Iszac Shenig was pictured in Lane 4 (center).
An UPenn swimmer claims she thinks Lia Thomas (22) conspired with Yale’s transgender swimmer Iszac Shenig in a 100 freestyle event
According to her teammate, Thomas and Henig (pictured), devised their strategy before Penn Home Tri-meets with Yale and Dartmouth.
Teammate who chose to remain anonymous in order not to be identified She believes Thomas and Henig are planning to take out terrorist threats, according to activists and threats received at the university This was before the Penn home tripartite with Yale and Dartmouth, earlier this month.
Outkick was told by Lia that she didn’t believe she was trying to cheat her time. They are good friends. I also know that they had been talking prior to the meet. Thomas let Thomas win, I believe, to show that she is a better female than me.
The teammate was asked whether she believed Thomas had thrown the meet. ‘I do. I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be shocked if I found out that was 100% true,’ Thomas’ she said.
Thomas was accused of also throwing another race. She won the 200-yard freestyle in 1.48.73. Two seconds was all it took to catch her nearest competitor.
Henig stated to the New York Times that he wasn’t taking hormones as he wanted to continue competing in sports.
Thomas became transgender in 2019, and was allowed to move from the men’s team to join the women’s under NCAA rules. He had taken testosterone suppressants for a year.
‘I was on deck and said to a friend, “She’s literally not trying.” OutKick could see it, she said. It was obvious. “I was watching 200 girls free, and she literally kept pace with them.”
“She was number one in the country at one point.” She was at one time the No. 1 swimmer in the country. These are definitely talented swimmers, but they’re not the caliber of being at the top in the country or anything like that,’ the teammate continued.
‘You can tell when someone is dying and they’re swimming slow,” the swimmer added. “You can also tell when someone is not trying and I could see (in the 200 freestyle) that Lia was not trying,’ she added.
Outkick was also informed by a teammate that their team had traveled to Stuart, Florida in preparation for the final NCAA home meet. Two private security guards were required, one for each gender.
The traveling party received special instructions by the school to avoid wearing Penn gear in order to steer clear of possible confrontation with people who may be following the Thomas story.
Thomas and the other teammates had to tape the Penn logo to their bodies.
It was unbelievable. OutKick heard from a teammate who was frustrated that people were sporting Duct Tape-covered shirts, and bags with duct tape on the bottoms. Lia was wearing large letters gear.
Henig (pictured), who is now transitioning from male to female, was also first in the 50-yard freestyle. This broke all records
Lia Thomas fell in the 100-meter Freestyle. Iszac, a fellow transgender swimmer (left), finished fifth. Henig is also transitioning from male to female.
Thomas (pictured, 22) was a member of the UPenn Men’s Team for three years, before he transitioned to the Women’s Team this year. This caused controversy following the shattering.
Lia Thomas (22) is currently the dominant woman’s college swimmer record holder after she transitioned.
Henig took part in three events during the Meet with Yale, Dartmouth, and University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Henig was victorious in all three of the events, as well as two head-to–head matchups with Thomas.
“I appreciate my contribution to the team, and I recognize that my boyhood does not depend on how much testosterone is running through me,” he said. He said that this is what he would try to recall when he put on the swimsuits for women.
Thomas broke 2 US records. This sparked fresh accusations of unfairness.
Thomas did an amazing performance last month at Akron’s Zippy Invitational Event. Anna Sofia Kalandaze was just 38 seconds behind Thomas as she finished the 1,650 yard freestyle in 38 seconds.
Thomas won at 15:59.71. Anna Kalandaze, her UPenn colleague came in second place with 16:37.44.
Thomas’ victory was an unprecedented achievement for both the Zippy Meet as well as the pool in which the event took places. She broke 2 US women’s record swimming times at earlier events.
Thomas broke the first US record by winning the 500-yard freestyle in 4:34.06. Kalandaze was 14 seconds behind her.
Then, earlier this month, she won 200-freestyle in 1;41:93. That’s seven seconds quicker than her nearest competitor. It was her fastest ever female US time for the race.
Thomas was slightly slower than Ohio in her 200-yard freestyle race, but she finished just five seconds ahead of her closest rival. She then pulled ahead at the finish in the last heat. Thomas finished just five seconds behind her nearest competitor during the first heat.
Parents gasped in shock as Yale swimmer Iszac Shenig beat his competitors easily in the 100-meter freestyle for women. Henig finished with 49.57 seconds. Thomas finished fifth with 52.84 seconds.
Thomas’ success has put the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s rules on transgender athletes in the forefront and it recently announced that national governing bodies for each sport will dictate who can compete.
The NCAA Board of Governors approved the guidelines Wednesday. Transgender participation in each sport will be decided by the policy of the national governing body. This policy is subject to revision and recommendation from an NCAA committee.
A new NCAA policy has been released this week, ahead of Thursday’s official meeting of NCAA Board of Governors. The policy states that in the absence of a national governing board, the sport’s international policy for federation would be in force.
If an international federation policy is not in place, then the IOC policies that were previously set would be used.
In 2010, the NCAA adopted a uniform policy across all sports based on requirements for hormone therapy.
NCAA President Mark Emmert released the following statement: “Approximately 80 percent” of US Olympians were either former or current college athletes.
“This policy alignment ensures consistency and strengthens the relationship between the college sport and the US Olympics.
The NCAA Board of Governors is suggesting NCAA divisions allow for additional eligibility if a transgender student-athlete loses eligibility based on the policy change. They must meet new NCAA guidelines to be eligible for this flexibility.
Georgetown President John DeGioia stated in a statement that he was steadfast in his support for transgender student athletes and fairness in college sports.
“It’s important for NCAA members schools, conferences, and college athletes to compete in an inclusive and fair, safe, respectful environment. They can also move forward with a clear understanding about the new policy.”
Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner) has asked the NCAA to stop University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who is transgender, from competing against her biological counterparts.
Jenner (72 years old) stated Wednesday that there is no doubt in her mind the rules must be changed. This was before Thursday’s meeting of the NCAA Board of Governors, where rules regarding transgender athletes will be reviewed.
The board hasn’t yet issued a statement about its meeting.
Jenner stated that ‘all of this unrealized world’ she is living in at the moment is not working. She won a gold in decathlon for Bruce during the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Jenner then switched to feminine in 2015.
“I feel sorry about the other athletes out there, particularly at Penn and any of her competitors,” she said.
Fox News interviewed her and she said that women need protection in sports and that the NCAA must make the right decision tomorrow. I believe it’s likely to end this immediately, so rethink.