Agreement Reached Between Trump Administration and UPenn on Women’s Sports
A former swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, who was a teammate of trans-athlete Leah Thomas, is sharing her thoughts after the Trump administration made a deal with the school aimed at keeping biological men from competing in women’s sports.
Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist, both ex-swimmers from UPenn, discussed the recent agreement on “Fox & Friends.” While they appreciated the progress, Kaczorowski noted that there were still “many steps that need to be taken.”
UPenn’s Compliance with Trump’s Vision for Women’s Sports
“It’s a solid starting point,” Kaczorowski mentioned during the discussion. She expressed gratitude for the efforts made by the Trump administration to support women, but emphasized that more work lies ahead.
She added, “We need to make sure that women’s rights are upheld, and that only women participate in women’s sports.” Holmquist, who found herself off the Ivy League championship roster in 2022 due to Leah Thomas’ involvement, reflected on the changes in policies regarding transgender athletes, stressing the need to protect young girls aspiring to compete.
Concerns Over UPenn’s Commitment
Kaczorowski voiced her concerns about UPenn not being as accountable as she had hoped. “If they truly collaborated with us—worked alongside the girls who want real change and focused on safeguarding women’s rights—I think they might have a genuine opportunity, but it seems they’re not doing that,” she said.
“They still seem to be resisting our calls,” she added. “I really hope they can change course.”
Paula Scanlan, another former teammate of Thomas, commended Education Secretary Linda McMahon for announcing the school’s agreement with the Trump administration.
Federal Actions on Women’s Sports
“I was there when she announced this at the White House yesterday,” Scanlan said on “American Newsroom.” “I know she’s got some significant plans for higher education, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that unfolds.”
As part of the agreement between UPenn and the Trump administration, the university will review past swimming records that biological male athletes have broken while competing against women. The school has also communicated its commitment to comply with the updated Title IX regulations from the Trump era.
This deal marks just one step in the federal approach to women’s sports. Earlier in February, President Trump signed an executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports, threatening to withdraw federal funding from schools that disregard this mandate.
