The debate over the recent win by Lia Thomas at the NCAA Championships has been sparked by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The governor uploaded a statement on Tuesday that said Emma Weyant was the winner of the 500-yard women's freestyle event.
Weyant, an Olympic silver medalist, finished more than a second behind Thomas, who made history by becoming the NCAA's first-ever trans champion in swimming.
It is my determination that men should not be competing against women such as Emma Weyant, robbing women and girls of achievements, awards, and scholarships.
He accused the NCAA of trying to destroy women's athletics and expressed his disapproval of the NCAA elevating ideology over biology.
Weyant is the rightful winner of the NCAA Division 1 Women's 500-yard freestyle.
By allowing men to compete in women's sports, the NCAA is ruining opportunities for women, making mockery of its championships, and perpetuates a fraud, according to the statement.
In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Emma Weyant as the best women's swimmer in the 500y freestyle.
Thomas competed on the University of Pennsylvania's men's swimming team for three years before transitioning. She joined the college's women's team in 2020.
After posting a series of record-breaking times, Thomas received backlash from her Penn teammates and faced anti-trans protests at swim meets.
She has also received support from other swimmers, including the Olympic silver medalist who placed third after Thomas and Weyant, and the Yale swimmer Iszac Henig, who is a trans man.
Thomas wants to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.
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