ATLANTA (AP) — Lia Thomas took keep watch over within the ultimate 100 yards of the 500-yard freestyle to make historical past Thursday as the primary transgender girl to win an NCAA swimming championship.
Thomas, the College of Pennsylvania senior who entered the NCAA ladies’s swimming and diving championships as the highest seed, had a season-best time of four mins, 33.24 seconds.
“I didn’t have plenty of expectation for this meet,” mentioned Thomas, a former male swimmer for Penn State. “I used to be simply glad to be right here and race and compete the most productive I may.”
Virginia’s Emma Weyant used to be 2nd at 4:34.99.
The race used to be shut till the overall 100 yards, with Weyant and Erica Sullivan of Texas pushing Thomas for the lead. The 3 swam in lanes 3 via 5, including to the drama, with Thomas within the center.
As used to be the case in Thursday morning in a initial win, Thomas used to be more potent on the finish. She gained the initial race at 4:33.82.
Sullivan used to be 3rd at 4:35.92. Stanford’s Brooke Forde used to be fourth at 4:36.18.
Thomas is also the highest seed within the 200 freestyle Friday and is the tenth seed within the 100 freestyle Saturday.
Thomas has adopted NCAA and Ivy League laws since she started her transition in 2019 via beginning hormone alternative treatment.
The inclusion of the transgender swimmer created controversy, even throughout the recreation. There have been fewer than 10 protesters out of doors the Georgia Tech facility, and a few carried banners which learn “Save Girls’s Sports activities” within the stands.
“I attempt to forget about it up to I will be able to,” Thomas mentioned. “I check out to concentrate on my swimming .. and simply attempt to block out the entirety else.”
Thomas spoke with ESPN straight away after the race however would now not take part within the respectable information convention, as required via the NCAA. Since participation is needed, conceivable motion may come following analysis via the NCAA’s swimming and diving championships committee.
Tennessee’s Julia Mrozinski gained the comfort ultimate with a time of four:37.35. Northwestern’s Lola Mull used to be 2nd.