Leah Thomas Discusses Transgender Representation in Sports
Leah Thomas, a well-known transgender swimmer, recently shared her thoughts in an interview. This was her first public comment since the University of Pennsylvania announced in June a decision, influenced by President Trump, to remove athletes’ swimming records from the women’s program and establish a policy against biological males competing in women’s sports.
While she didn’t directly address the agreement with the Trump administration, Thomas did express her feelings toward critics of transgender athletes in women’s categories. “You can’t choose when to see me as a woman. It’s not fair to selectively decide based on the situation,” she stated. “But when it comes to trans women, some people feel like they’re entitled to make that call.”
When asked about how to approach those who support both transgender rights and the protection of women’s sports, Thomas mentioned that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can diminish any competitive advantages for trans athletes. “HRT reduces muscle mass, strength, and endurance significantly. Saying ‘I think you’re a woman, but you shouldn’t compete’ really reflects a misunderstanding of trans experiences,” she said.
A study from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute argues against fairness in allowing trans women to compete in women’s sports, suggesting that even with testosterone suppression for a year, trans women maintain a physical advantage due to prior hormone levels during adolescence.
Thomas also shared a personal story about coming out as transgender in 2018. During a summer course, Thomas’s girlfriend invited her to a Pride parade. “At that moment, I felt comfortable enough to say, ‘I’m transgender’ for the first time. It was a significant milestone for me, and she was incredibly supportive,” Thomas recalled.
In the 2021-22 season, Thomas competed for the UPenn women’s swim team after previously swimming for the men’s team. She achieved notable success, winning the NCAA Division I All-American Championship in the 500-yard freestyle, among other accolades.
Since then, multiple swimmers from that season, both from UPenn and other universities, have spoken out about their experiences with Thomas in shared spaces like pools and locker rooms. Riley Gaines, a former swimmer from the University of Kentucky who famously tied with Thomas at the NCAA Championships, has become an outspoken advocate for women’s sports rights, even filing a lawsuit that includes several plaintiffs who competed against Thomas.
Additionally, three former UPenn swimmers have launched separate lawsuits against the university and the Ivy League. Paula Scanlan, one of Thomas’s teammates, was the first to voice her concerns about the situation during and after the 2022 season.
Monika Burzynska, also a former swimmer at UPenn, reflected on how sharing a locker space with Thomas reshaped her feelings. “I always sympathized with the challenges of feeling out of place in one’s own body. But then you realize the implications when you’re faced with it personally,” she noted. “You feel for them, but there’s also this undeniable sense of unfairness.”
Recently, Thomas was recognized with the Voice of Inspiration award at the Violet Visionary Awards, an event that draws support from various organizations, including prominent sports teams.
