Trapeze swimmer Lia Thomas will not use her athlete’s chance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Paris.
Thomas, the biological male who competed in the 2022 Women’s National Team Championships as a swimmer for the women’s national team, has officially lost a legal challenge against the World Aquatics Association. Thomas argued that his participation in the competitions against the women was “invalid and illegal.”
The 25-year-old has been ruled out of the women’s swimming sport for the summer of 2022 after the sport’s umbrella organisation excluded an athlete who had passed “part of male puberty”.
World Aquatics welcomed the court’s decision to uphold the rule that Thomas stays away from the women’s pool and called it “a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport.”
“World Aquatics is committed to fostering an environment that promotes equality, respect and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders, and we confirm this promise,” the organization told The Guardian .
It is worth noting that the World Cup no longer excluded truss athletes from the competition. The organization introduced a new category for truss swimmers. This new category was debuted at last year’s World Cup in Berlin, but did not receive a single starting point.
Lia Thomas stands with Outkick’s Riley Gaipes after losing an NCAA title against biological women.
Thomas, who was at best an average swimmer in the competition against the Mexican, is now also a member of USA Swimming, which took the court’s decision against a policy change to its advantage.
“The article concludes that an athlete, if not eligible to participate in ‘elite competition’ within the meaning of the USA Swimming guidelines, is allowed to participate in a WA competition, which is done by WA registration prior to a competition or is justified, that is not justified, that is not justified for competition.
“The political and operational requirements are simply not triggered by their current condition.”
U.S. Olympic qualifying begins June 15 in Athens and will be held for the first time on a soccer field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In 2022, when ESPN and BC Thomas had a guest during Women’s History Month, Thomas sat down with “Good Morning America” and made it clear that the 2028 Olympics were on her agenda.
“It’s been my goal for a long time to swim in the Olympic qualifying competitions, and I would like to try that,” Thomas said.
Fortunately, the common denominator prevailed and the women have the opportunity to compete as a women’s swim team and represent the United States in Paris.
