WASHINGTON (TND) — Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is quietly fighting to overturn a ban preventing transgender women from competing against biological ones, a battle that could result in allowing her to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic trials, The Telegraph reported.
The sport’s governing body, World Aquatics, introduced rules in June 2022 barring competitors who have undergone “any part of male puberty” from racing against biological women. It previously permitted these individuals on the condition they lowered their testosterone levels.
“It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time, and I would love to see that through,” Thomas told “Good Morning America” just weeks before World Aquatics introduced its policy.
The swimmer gained attention when she joined the University of Pennsylvania's women's swimming team in 2021 after originally competing on the men's men. Thomas went on to become an NCAA champion.
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Since the World Aquatics ruling, Thomas has not entered any competitions.
Thomas, 24, reportedly hired Canadian law firm Tyr to petition the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland to reverse the rule after becoming the first openly transgender person to win an NCAA championship title. The timing of the case, however, makes it unlikely it will be heard in time to allow her to qualify for the 2024 Olympic trials.
"The World Aquatics policy on gender inclusion, adopted by World Aquatics in June of 2022, was rigorously developed on the basis of advice from leading medical and legal experts, and in careful consultation with athletes," World Aquatics told The National Desk in a statement. "World Aquatics remains confident that its gender inclusion policy represents a fair approach and remains absolutely determined to protect women's sport."
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Allowing transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity remains a highly controversial topic in women’s athletics. The University of Washington in December faced controversy after rescinding an offer to a 16-year-old transgender girl to play on its women’s volleyball team.
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