Lia Thomas was booed after becoming a women’s NCAA swimming champion Thursday night.
The University of Pennsylvania athlete, who swam as a man until recently, won the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships, becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport.
Thomas defeated Virginia freshman Emma Weyant by 1.75 seconds with a time of 4:33.24.
“Save Women’s Sports” protesters could be heard shouting “cheater” when Thomas was highlighted.
WATCH BELOW:
NCAA- As winners are announced crowd goes wild for 2nd place winner of the 500Y Freestyle.
— Sav (@RapidFire_Pod) March 17, 2022
Crowd goes quiet as Thomas is announced first place. pic.twitter.com/fh5sVvlVxc
A Virginia Tech swimmer, who was booted from the race because of Thomas, was left in tears.
Virginia Tech swimmer competing in this year’s NCAA championship details how her teammate was brought to tears after her place in the finals was taken by Lia Thomas: pic.twitter.com/mow56mVp1W
— Sav (@RapidFire_Pod) March 17, 2022
#LiaThomas: How a mediocre man named #WilliamThomas transitioned into being the greatest female swimmer of all time. pic.twitter.com/E7jfj6pQSY
— Shaughn_A (@Shaughn_A2) March 8, 2022
I spoke to protesters on both sides of the issue after Lia Thomas took home first place in the 500-yard freestyle NCAA women’s championship @StandingforXX
— Teny Sahakian (@TenySahakian) March 18, 2022
Full story here: https://t.co/TDZzMX9zQP pic.twitter.com/h0cdywbaqr
“It means the world to be here.”
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 18, 2022
Lia Thomas spoke about swimming in the NCAA women’s championships. pic.twitter.com/aP0afVA0KE
The 500 meter final race just ended. Lia Thomas came in first. Saw some tears in the audience that weren’t tears of joy. Immediately afterward Lia was interviewed and displayed on the big screen. pic.twitter.com/hIbtuHxIf7
— Miss Havisham (@MissHavisham10) March 17, 2022
Congrats to Emma Weyant, the Olympic Medalist, Who Should’ve Won Women’s NCAA Championship