Following the University of Pennsylvania’s decision to remove all program records set by former transgender swimmer Leah Thomas, there are ongoing discussions about how the NCAA will address her NCAA title. Thomas achieved a time of 4:33.24 in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championship.
She also ranked in the top ten in several other events, which inadvertently affected her female competitors’ standings. Even though UPenn has erased these records, Thomas’ achievements remain on a national level.
Riley Gaines, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who finished behind Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle that year, is leading a lawsuit against the NCAA. The lawsuit includes a request for the NCAA to revoke all of Thomas’ championships.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the NCAA regarding potential changes to Thomas’ 2022 championship results, but they have not yet received a response.
In an interview on “Dont @Me With Dan Dakich,” Gaines expressed her frustrations about the NCAA’s inaction. She stated, “The University of Pennsylvania is the Ivy League, but you need to withdraw records from your accounts and record boards. The NCAA doesn’t need to let me know, so we’ll see how they respond.”
Gaines remains skeptical about any corrections to the records. “These ‘leaders’ have been completely co-opted for the last three years—uneven and morally bankrupt,” she said.
Amid these discussions, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt commented on federal laws, including Title IX, that could lead to prosecutions for certain offenders, referencing the complexities surrounding the issue of transgender athletes.
Gaines previously told Fox News Digital that she would support legal action on this matter. “I think what’s happening is a crime. Our rights and safety should matter more than anything else,” she said. “Someone needs to be held accountable. Otherwise, those opposing women’s rights will continue unchallenged. University officials should face consequences.”
