An NCAA swimmer who finished one spot out of the finals in the 500 meter freestyle, which was won by Lia Thomas, has released a statement.
Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy, a two-time ACC champion and All-American, finished in 17th in the qualifying of the 500 meter freestyle. Only the top 16 finishers made it to the finals.
Gyorgy has released a statement on the situation surrounding Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from Penn.
Thomas, who previously competed for the Penn men’s team, has transitioned and undergone hormone therapy. She won the 500 meter freestyle and competed in other events at the NCAA Championships this week.
Gyorgy is calling on the NCAA to take another look at the situation with Thomas and transgender athletes.
“Every event that transgender athletes participated in was one spot taken away from biological females throughout the meet,” she wrote.
Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy has released a full statement on the NCAA allowing Lia Thomas to compete in the 500 freestyle. She was 17th in the event.
“Every event that transgender athletes participated in was one spot taken away from biological females throughout the meet” pic.twitter.com/Z0J9lUY3pN
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) March 20, 2022
While there are many who feel similarly to Gyorgy, there are also many supporters of Thomas, who believe she has the right to compete among her fellow women.
Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA championship in any Division 1 sport.
Penn’s Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships.
Thomas becomes the first known transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport.
Full story from @katie_barnes3: https://t.co/mYzU5uBDpS pic.twitter.com/zgmIEgKO5x
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 17, 2022
This discussion is only going to grow louder in years to come.
*story by thespun.com
