You are working on Staging1

300+ NCAA Swimmers Sign Letter In Support of Thomas, Trans & Nonbinary Athletes

A group of 322 NCAA, Team USA and Olympic swimmers have signed an open letter to the NCAA in support of Lia Thomas and all trans and nonbinary athletes.

On Feb. 10, Athlete Ally and Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender NCAA Division I swimmer, sent the letter asking the NCAA to “not allow political pressure to compromise the safety and wellbeing of college athletes everywhere.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Schuyler Bailar (@pinkmantaray)

“The amount of discrimination [Thomas] has experienced, the amount of hatred, the amount of just blatant cruelty that has been projected and targeted at her, it is inhumane,” Bailar told Sports Illustrated.

“It is unkind. It is horrible. It is really hard to see as another transgender athlete, in person. And, to be quite honest and frank with you, it is life-threatening to trans people in general, because we already are at risk.”

Current University of Texas freshman Erica Sullivan, who became the first openly gay U.S. swimmer to win an Olympic medal last summer with her silver in the women’s 1500 freestyle in Tokyo, was among those who signed the letter.

“I was fortunate enough to be welcomed with open arms in the swim community when I came out as gay,” Sullivan said. “Just with my own personal good experience of coming out and feeling all that love and support within my swim community, I feel like [Lia] deserves the same thing.”

The letter also includes 2016 U.S. Olympian Jacob Pebley, who spoke out in support of Thomas last month.

Athlete Ally is a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group in the United States that primary focuses on making athletic communities more inclusive and less discriminatory.

Unlike most letters from current athletes, this one includes signatures from all 322 swimmers that decided to sign.

Full Open Letter:

Open Letter to the NCAA in Support of Transgender and Nonbinary Athletes

“We, the undersigned members of the swimming community, support and welcome transgender and nonbinary athletes in our sport.

With this letter, we express our support for Lia Thomas, and all transgender college athletes, who deserve to be able to participate in safe and welcoming athletic environments. We urge you to not allow political pressure to compromise the safety and wellbeing of college athletes everywhere.

We ask the following: 1) do not adopt USA Swimming’s current policy mid-season; 2) establish clear and consistent guidelines for developing and adopting new eligibility policies, and ensure those policies are adopted and communicated well in advance of the season; and 3) ensure that transgender and nonbinary athletes are directly engaged in the policy development process.

We love swimming for the lifelong, invaluable lessons it has taught us about hard work, discipline, and the power of being part of a team. No one should be denied the opportunity to have their life changed through swimming simply because of who they are.

There are very real, documented threats to women’s swimming, including but not limited to rampant sexual abuse, and an inequitable number of women’s coaches within USA Swimming. The NCAA also faces its own deep and historical challenges with gender equity, as outlined in the detailed report released last year focused on the stark differences between NCAA D1 men’s and women’s basketball. We can and should address these challenges. Transgender women are not and have never been a part of these challenges to women’s swimming, and sidelining them from sport does nothing to protect women athletes.

What makes our sport great is the strength in the diversity of our athletes. No one swimmer is the same. We learn from each other, are inspired by one another, and support one another. We will not be silent as members of our swim community are unfairly targeted by discriminatory policies.”

Signed,

  1. Kenneth Castro Abrams, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  2. Aaron Ach, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  3. Claire Adams, Team USA, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  4. Madeline Alagia, Rhodes College Swimming & Diving
  5. Stephanie Amberg, UCLA Swim & Dive, North Bay Aquatics
  6. Michael Ambrosio, Goucher College Swimming & Diving
  7. Lauren Anderson, American University Swimming & Diving
  8. Gail Anderson, Kenyon College Swim & Dive
  9. Maddie Annis, Williams College Swimming & Diving
  10. Lauren Antonowich, Washington University in St. Louis Swimming
  11. Grace Ariola, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  12. Julia Armitage, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  13. Macey Arnold, University of North Carolina Swimming & Diving
  14. Hannah Aylward, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  15. Cecina Babich Morrow, Kenyon College Swim & Dive
  16. Jeremy Babinet, University of Michigan Swimming & Diving
  17. Schuyler Bailar, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  18. Al Bailey, University of North Dakota Swimming & Diving
  19. Abigail Benkert, Cornell University Swimming & Diving
  20. Meredith Bergman, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  21. Zachary Bergman, Colby College Swimming & Diving
  22. Alyssa Berman, Swarthmore College Swimming
  23. Jonathan Bernard, Xavier University Swimming
  24. Elizabeth Bernardy, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  25. Jessica Blake-West, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  26. Madison Blaydes, University of Wisconsin-Madison Swimming & Diving
  27. Jordan Blitz, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  28. Ellen Bloom, University of Minnesota Swim & Dive
  29. Natalie Bodenhamer, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  30. Karen Gerken Book, Rice University Swimming
  31. Malia Borg, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  32. Jack Boyd, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  33. Lauren Brady, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  34. Jacquelyn Braggin, UC Davis Swimming & Diving
  35. Olivia Bray, Team USA
  36. Allyson Bremer, Rice University Swimming, USA Swimming
  37. Kendall Brent, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  38. Kelly Brock, University of Kansas Swimming
  39. Mac Brower, Bowdoin College Swimming & Diving
  40. Brigita Burgess, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  41. Brigid Burke, East Carolina University Swimming/Diving
  42. Savannah Butler, Harvard Swimming & Diving
  43. Sarah Campbell, Kenyon College Swim & Dive
  44. Jennifer Fredsall Cantwell, University of Utah Swimming & Diving
  45. Gillian Caverly, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  46. Allison Chang, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  47. Daniel Chang, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  48. Caroline Chapon, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  49. Michelle Chintanaphol, Yale Swimming
  50. Kait Chura, Rice University Swimming
  51. Emma Coakley, Team USA (triathlon), University of Louisville Swimming & Diving
  52. Lauren Cogar, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  53. Cody Conte, SUNY Brockport Swimming & Diving
  54. Anna Cook, University of Rochester Swimming & Diving
  55. Val Corrente, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Swimming & Diving
  56. Izabel Coxfaxo, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  57. Jameson Crandell, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  58. Kayde Cross, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  59. Emily Culver, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  60. Miki Dahlke, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  61. Kevin Dai, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  62. Alexis Danchak, American University Swimming & Diving
  63. Ren DeBrossd , Kenyon College Swim & Dive
  64. Hadley DeBruyn, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  65. Kathryn Didion, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  66. Tyler DiMarco, American University Swimming & Diving
  67. Robert Doles, Harvard Swimming
  68. Leif Jorgensen Duus, St. Olaf College Swim & Dive
  69. Sam Dyer, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  70. Kristi Edleson, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  71. Nathalie Eid, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  72. Anastasia Erley, Swarthmore College Swimming
  73. Alexandra Ernst, Rice University Swimming
  74. Katherine Evans, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  75. Shannon Exley, American University Swimming & Diving
  76. Eva Fabian, Team USA, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  77. Natalie Fahey, USA Swimming, Southern Illinois University Swimming & Diving
  78. Eleanor Felton , American University Swimming & Diving
  79. Liam Fitzgerald, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  80. Emily Fogle, Purdue University Swimming & Diving
  81. Sophie Fontaine, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  82. Megan Foran, Northeastern University Swimming & Diving
  83. Emily Fogel, Purdue University Swimming
  84. Luke Foster, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  85. Patrick Frith, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  86. Maddy Frost, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  87. Taylor García, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  88. Daniela Georges, University of Arizona Swimming & Diving
  89. Rebekah Getman, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  90. Grace Giddings, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  91. Amelia Gilchrist, Brown Swimming and Diving
  92. Grant Goddard, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  93. Brandon Goldman, Louisiana State University Swimming & Diving
  94. Isabella Goldsmith, UCLA Swimming & Diving
  95. Kara Gordon, Washington University in St. Louis Swimming & Diving
  96. Lucy Gramley, US Masters Swimming, Brown University Water Polo
  97. Evan Grey, Georgetown University Swimming & Diving
  98. Taylor Grey, University of Virginia Swimming & Diving
  99. Owen Griffin, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  100. Haley Griffin, University of New England Swimming
  101. Madeline Groves, Swimming Australia
  102. Katie Grover, UCLA Swim & Dive, Swim Atlanta
  103. Elaina Gu, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  104. Sofia Guarnieri, University of Rochester Swimming & Diving
  105. Vivian Guo, Swarthmore College Swimming
  106. Sarah Haase, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  107. Caylee Hamilton, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis Swimming &  Diving
  108. Samantha Harding, Team Canada, University of Minnesota Swim & Dive
  109. Matti Harrison, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  110. Malak Hassouna, American University Swimming & Diving
  111. Eszter Heins, UC San Diego Swimming & Diving
  112. Iszac Henig, Yale Swimming
  113. Carlo Hensch, Harvard Swimming & Diving
  114. Luca Hensch, Harvard Swimming and Diving
  115. Ezren Herzog, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  116. Lucas Hess, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  117. Erica Hjelle, Team USA, Georgetown University Swimming & Diving
  118. Deborah Ho, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  119. Kelsey Hojan-Clark, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  120. Katharine Holmes, Hartwick College Swimming & Diving
  121. Katelyn Holmquist, University of Minnesota Swimming
  122. Nathan Holty, Ohio State University Swim & Dive
  123. Madison Horton, University of Michigan Swimming & Diving
  124. Logan Houck, Team USA, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  125. Janet Hu, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  126. Charlotte Hylinski, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  127. Laurel Jin, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  128. Ellen Johnson, American University Swimming & Diving
  129. Olivia Johnson, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  130. Jacob Johnson, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  131. Ryan Jolley, American University Swimming & Diving
  132. Wilson Josephson, Carleton College Swimming & Diving, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  133. Carter Kale, College of William & Mary Swimming
  134. Hannah Kannan, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  135. Arik Katz, Team USA, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  136. Artie Kerchmar, Loras College Swimming & Diving
  137. Erin Kiley, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  138. Edward Kim, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  139. Soodong Kim, Cornell Swimming and Diving
  140. Lily Koenig, American University Swimming and Diving
  141. Delayni Kornak-Kotarba, Wayne State University Swimming & Diving
  142. Zack Kundel, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  143. Lindsey L’Roy, University of Tennessee Swimming and Diving
  144. Karin Langer, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  145. Anna Lee, UC Davis Swimming & Diving
  146. Anisa Lester, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  147. Sian Lewandowki, Macalester Swimming
  148. Janelle Lief, Western New England University Swimming
  149. Danielle Liu, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  150. Zella Lobo, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  151. Sydney Lofquist, USC, University of Wisconsin Swimming and Diving
  152. Mackenzie Logan, University of Nevada Las Vegas Swim & Dive
  153. Connor Lohman, Brown University Swimming and Diving
  154. Kennedy Lohman, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  155. Valentina Lohr, Cornell University Swimming & Diving
  156. Sarah Magid, Carleton College Swimming
  157. Alisha Mah, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  158. John Manchester, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  159. Paul Maneri, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  160. Maddie Mara, American University Swimming & Diving
  161. Mackenzie Marrs, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Swimming & Diving
  162. Summer Martin, Dartmouth College Swimming & Diving
  163. Journey Martinson, Cal Poly Swimming & Diving
  164. Zoe Mattingly, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  165. Christine McCulla, United States Coast Guard Academy Swimming
  166. Elizabeth McCulla, University of Delaware Swimming & Diving
  167. Emma McGill, Seattle University Swimming
  168. Abby McIlraith, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  169. Katie McKay, University of North Carolina Swimming & Diving
  170. William McNelis, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  171. Kelly Meierotto, University of Alaska Swimming
  172. Emily Meilus, Virginia Tech Swimming & Diving
  173. Mia Meister, University of New England Swimming
  174. Johanna Mellis, College of Charleston Swimming & Diving
  175. Briana Meyer, UCLA Swim & Dive
  176. Alex Meyers, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  177. Cori Michibata, Johns Hopkins University Swimming
  178. Jake Mier, Vassar College Swimming & Diving
  179. Annika Miller, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  180. Emily Mitchell, Wheaton College Swimming & Diving, EDGE Swim Club
  181. Katie Money, Auburn Swimming
  182. Luke Morgan-Scott, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  183. Quinn Murphy, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  184. Andie Myers, University of Pennsylvania Swimming & Diving
  185. Zoe Myers-Bochner, Swarthmore Swimming
  186. Jacob Nason, Washington University in St. Louis Swimming & Diving
  187. Jenny Natelson, Colorado College Swimming & Diving
  188. Elisabeth Nesmith, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  189. Matthew Newton, Connecticut College Swimming & Diving
  190. Carmen San Nicolas, University of Miami Swimming & Diving
  191. William Nicholson, Macalester College Swimming
  192. Melina Nilson, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  193. Mackenzie Niness, Villanova University Swimming & Diving
  194. Nicholas Nocita, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  195. Lucie Nordmann, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  196. Annie Norris, Lehigh University Swimming & Diving, Athletes’ Executive Committee (AEC) of USA Swimming
  197. Francesca Noviello, Princeton Swimming & Diving
  198. Kaela Nurmi, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Swimming & Diving
  199. Joelle Ohr, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  200. Charlotte O’Leary, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  201. Claire O’Mara, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  202. Ryan O’Neill, Pennsylvania State University Swimming & Diving
  203. Courtney Otto, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  204. Addie Paige, Colby College Swimming & Diving
  205. Ava Palfreyman, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  206. Julia Papp, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  207. Jaehee Park, American University Swimming & Diving
  208. Russell Payne, University of Minnesota Swimming
  209. Jacob Pebley, Team USA
  210. Ray Pedersen, Bates College Swimming & Diving
  211. David J. Pfeifer, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  212. Lauren Pich, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  213. Kaitlyn Pierce, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  214. Sofie Pietrantonio, Williams College Swimming & Diving
  215. Sophie Piette, University of New England Swimming
  216. Lauren Pitzer, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  217. Reid Pope, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  218. Katie Priest, Williams College Swimming & Diving
  219. Cathleen Pruden, Mount Holyoke College Swimming & Diving
  220. Mary Pruden, Columbia University Swimming & Diving
  221. Jay Pulitano, Sarah Lawrence College Swimming, Team New York Aquatics
  222. Anna Rakowski, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  223. Sofia Rauzi, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  224. Lyndsey Reeve, Pennsylvania State University Swimming & Diving
  225. Ginger Ren, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  226. Noah Richter, University of Kentucky Swimming & Diving
  227. Olivia Rieur, Middlebury Swimming & Diving
  228. Amy Roach, Carleton College Swim & Dive Team
  229. Kate Rogers, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  230. Lauren Rohde, Swarthmore College Swimming
  231. Eric Ronda, Harvard Swimming
  232. Charlotte Rosenberg, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  233. Olivia Rubino, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  234. Javier Ruisanchez, Puerto Rico National Team
  235. Sadie Runeman, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  236. Saya Ryan, Washington University in St. Louis Swimming & Diving
  237. G Ryan, Team USA, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  238. Helaina Sacco, Colby-Sawyer College Swimming & Diving
  239. Emily Sanders, Rice University Swimming
  240. Mariele Saunders-Shultz, Bucknell University Swimming & Diving
  241. Nicholas Schlader, Loras College Swimming & Diving
  242. Jon Schlafer, Brown University Swimming & Diving
  243. Marly Schrom, Carleton College Swimming & Diving
  244. Courtney Schultze, St. Olaf College Swimming & Diving
  245. Allison Schumacher, University of Minnesota Swimming & Diving
  246. Lauren Schutz, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  247. Brayden Seal, Ohio State Swimming
  248. Deborah Seiler, UC Davis Swimming & Diving
  249. Stephanie Shao, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  250. Kelly Sherman, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  251. Cailley Silbert, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  252. Jordan Silbert, Cornell University Swimming & Diving
  253. Gabrielle Sims, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  254. Maddy Sims, Northwestern Swimming
  255. Ishani Singh, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  256. Kendra Sirianni, Loras College Swimming & Diving
  257. Breanne Siwicki, University of Minnesota Swimming
  258. Delaney Smith, Williams College Swimming & Diving
  259. Sean Smith, Rutgers University Swimming & Diving
  260. Milana Socha, Carleton College Swimming & Diving, Northwestern University Swimming & Diving
  261. Amy Socha, Tufts University Swim & Dive
  262. Gavin Springer, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  263. Amanda Stadermann, Washington University in St. Louis Swimming & Diving
  264. Neal Stepp, Texas Christian University Swimming & Diving
  265. Leah Stevens, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  266. Sylvie Stoloff, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  267. Laura Strachan, Swarthmore College Swimming
  268. Alyssa Stringer, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  269. Jessica Student, Slippery Rock University Swimming
  270. Erica Sullivan, Team USA, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  271. Scarlett Sun, Georgetown University Swimming & Diving
  272. David Swensen, University of Massachusetts Swimming & Diving
  273. Astrid Swensen, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  274. Sarah Swinnerton, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  275. Steve Tan, Harvard Swimming and Diving
  276. Hayden Tavoda, UC Berkeley Swimming & Diving
  277. Lindsay Temple, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  278. McKenna Tennant, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  279. Zach Thomas, Columbia University Swimming & Diving
  280. Mikaela Thompson, Harvard Swimming and Diving
  281. Ella Tierney, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  282. Grace Tierney, University of Wisconsin-Madison Swimming & Diving
  283. Katie Trace, The Ohio State University Swimming and Diving
  284. Jack Tribble, University of Minnesota Swimming and Diving
  285. Sophia Tsai, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  286. Mackenzie Tucker, Swarthmore College Swimming
  287. Susannah Tuder, USA Swimming
  288. Laura Turpen, Tulane University Swimming & Diving
  289. Caitlin Tycz, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  290. Arlyn Upshaw, Terrapins Swim Team, UCLA Swimming & Diving
  291. Margaret Vaitkus, Northern Michigan University Swimming & Diving
  292. Graham Walker, Kenya Swimming Federation, University of Denver Swimming & Diving
  293. Eliana Wallock, Ithaca College Swimming & Diving
  294. Matthew Warren, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  295. Mimi Watts, American University Swimming & Diving
  296. Katherine Wehrman, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  297. Sarah Welch, Brown Swimming
  298. Dani Wheeler, Nebraska Wesleyan Swimming
  299. Jordan Wheeler, University of Texas Swimming & Diving
  300. Eric Whisenant, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  301. Morgan Whyte, Carleton College Swimming
  302. Aidan Williams, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  303. Demetra Williams, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  304. Kim Williams, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  305. Sarah Wilson, Bowdoin College Swimming & Diving
  306. Julia Wilson, Kenyon College Swim & Dive
  307. Julie Witczak, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Swimming & Diving
  308. Annie Wixted, Swarthmore College Swimming
  309. Sebastian Wolff, Cornell Swimming & Diving
  310. Emily Woo, Smith College Swimming & Diving
  311. Verity Wray-Raabolle, Macalester College Swimming & Diving
  312. Cheryl Xiang, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  313. Gensi Xu, Knox College Swimming & Diving
  314. Maxim Yakubovich, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  315. Christian Yeager, Harvard University Swimming & Diving
  316. Samantha Yeo, USA Swimming, Team Singapore, University of Michigan Swimming/Diving
  317. Colten Young, Princeton University Swimming & Diving
  318. Valerie Yoshimura, Harvard Swimming and Diving
  319. Emily Zhang, George Washington University Swimming
  320. Amy Zhao, Yale University Swimming & Diving
  321. Grace Zhao, Stanford University Swimming & Diving
  322. Maddy Zimmerman, Yale University Swimming & Diving

Thomas, who competed on the University of Pennsylvania men’s swim team for three seasons before transitioning to the women’s squad this year, competed at the Women’s Ivy League Championships last week, earning individual victories in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free.

Provided she passes the NCAA’s transgender guidelines, Thomas will compete at next month’s NCAA Championships.

In This Story

153
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

153 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
D1 Alum
2 years ago

Might want to check names 80 and 83. Same person. Let’s not inflate these numbers. The petition against Lia competing has far more signatures

Last edited 2 years ago by D1 Alum
Fulldraw
2 years ago

Taking pills and changing suits doesn’t change biology, but I guess if 300+ agree to surrender their gender and accomplishments… ok. Mens swimming encompasses and dominates all from now on. Congrats

Backcountry164
2 years ago

How many of them have to compete against her?? Let me guess, none of them…

the worm
Reply to  Backcountry164
2 years ago

In fact, 90 of the people on the list are from ivy league teams including #60 Miki Dahlke who previously held the ivy league records that Lia Thomas broke. This list is full of people who are materially impacted by Lia competing and still support her.

JVW
Reply to  the worm
2 years ago

But the specific question Backcountry164 had was how many of them have to compete against Lia. Miki Dahlke graduated two years ago, and it would appear that a number of other signatories to this letter have already cycled through their NCAA eligibility. It’s a lot easier being supportive of Lia when you know that Lia won’t be taking away any awards or places from you.

Tate
2 years ago

269. Jessica Student, Slippery Rock University Swimming?!? Is this even a real signature?

Fluid Dynamics Person
Reply to  Tate
2 years ago

Jessica Student, former co-captain of Slippery Rock University Women’s Swimming:

https://rockathletics.com/sports/womens-swimming-and-diving/roster/2007-2008

You should at least try a simple Google search before attempting to discredit someone because you think her name is weird.

the worm
2 years ago

Trans Women are Women

Norm
Reply to  the worm
2 years ago

Transgender is a mental problem or in Lea’s case just faking it for an advantage

the worm
Reply to  Norm
2 years ago

Find chud speed run (VERY EASY) — 11:45;35

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Norm
2 years ago

It’s not a problem.

But thinking she’s “faking” is a problem.

Challenger5150
2 years ago

I think, as you can see by the comments, there are many more people that disagree with this than agree. I’m surmising most of those “322 swimmers” haven’t actually had to swim against and lose medals or scholarships to the transgender athletes otherwise they’d be singing a much different tune!

Blackflag82
Reply to  Challenger5150
2 years ago

Well, since most people commenting here and swimming in college haven’t lost medals or scholarships to trans athletes either, I’m not sure of your point?

Its a good think society doesn’t have to wait for a majority of people to support a thing before change occurs or we’d still live in a country with slavery where women couldn’t vote…

ARH
Reply to  Blackflag82
2 years ago

Sooooo you’rrrre against democracy? You think majorities should be forced to live in societies where elites and fringe minorities insult their values?

swimapologist
Reply to  ARH
2 years ago

What democracy do you live in that works that way? Lol. The United States’ democracy, which is the relevant one in this case, certainly doesn’t.

Some of y’all didn’t read the Tyranny of the Majority in sophomore English class and it shows.

Blackflag82
Reply to  ARH
2 years ago

It sounds like your don’t actually have a good grasp on what democracy is.

But to address your question, I’m grateful to live in a country where people can work towards equality and justice for themselves and those they love without needing the permission of the majority to do so.

the worm
Reply to  Challenger5150
2 years ago

In fact 90 of the people on the list are from ivy league teams including #60 Miki Dahlke who previously held the ivy league records that Lia Thomas broke. This list is full of people who are materially impacted by Lia competing.

JVW
Reply to  the worm
2 years ago

Really? Because just a quick random check on names suggests that an awful lot of them have already finished up their NCAA swimming careers and thus will not be competing against Lia. It’s awfully easy to be generous with somebody else’s awards, placings, and accolades, isn’t it?

50free
2 years ago

Bye bye women’s sport

See The Future
2 years ago

Women’s sports are being affected by the current standards and the corruption of the concept to establish equal competition playing fields when you mix nonbiological women against biological women on the same field of competition. Lia has reminded us the same way Renee Richard’s taught us decades ago – the field of competition is not fair with MTF in direct competition against biological women.

My recommendation is let colleges who see no gender related issues be the leaders in creating non-gender “safe” place for all athletes to compete by banding together non-gender oriented team leagues that have their own rules, standards and competitions.

Other colleges can remain true to the intent of Title IX and allow female athletes to… Read more »

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »