"Transgender Athlete's Victory Record Erased"... Why Did the University of Pennsylvania Decide This?

University of Pennsylvania to Erase First Transgender Swimmer's Victory Records
Following Trump's Policy Based on Biological Sex
Apology Letters to Be Sent to Disadvantaged Female Athletes

The University of Pennsylvania in the United States has announced that it will erase the victory record of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and issue an apology to the female athletes who were disadvantaged in that competition. This decision aligns with President Donald Trump's policy stance emphasizing sports participation regulations based on biological sex.

Lia Thomas, who won the women's swimming competition. Photo by AFP

According to the Associated Press on July 2 (KST), President Trump had previously implemented a 'policy of separating sports based on biological sex,' restricting the participation of transgender athletes who have transitioned from male to female in women's events, with Thomas's case at the center of this policy.

Thomas competed in boys' events during high school and ranked among the top athletes in Texas. She enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 2017. Beginning hormone therapy in 2019, she transitioned to female and, starting from the 2021-2022 season, met the NCAA requirements to compete in women's swimming events. In 2022, Thomas achieved multiple victories in NCAA Division I freestyle events with dominant performances. Notably, she became the first transgender athlete to win the NCAA Division I Championship in the 500-yard freestyle, sparking widespread debate.

At the time, several athletes and coaches argued that the effects of male hormones had not been completely eliminated and insisted that Thomas's victories should not be recognized. Concerns grew over the deprivation of opportunities for female athletes. In response, Thomas stated, "I did not transition to win in sports, but to find happiness." The Trump administration launched an investigation into whether the University of Pennsylvania's decision to allow Thomas to compete on the women's team violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, and froze $175 million in federal research funding.

Subsequently, World Aquatics strengthened its regulations, allowing only athletes assigned female at birth to compete in women's events, thereby barring transgender athletes from participating in competitions. Thomas challenged World Aquatics' gender policy at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2024, but her case was dismissed. The University of Pennsylvania officially announced that it would erase Thomas's victory records, restore the records of female athletes who lost their NCAA Division I titles to Thomas, and send them letters of apology.

Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education, stated, "This is a victory for women and girls," and welcomed the University of Pennsylvania's move to correct past mistakes in order to protect fairness in women's sports. This measure is expected to serve as an important milestone in establishing future standards regarding the participation of transgender athletes in sports.