Réka György Criticizes Virginia Governor Over Withdrawal of Women’s Sports Protections
Hungarian Olympian Réka György has spoken out against Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s administration for dropping a proposed regulation that aimed to safeguard women’s sports and private areas from the participation of transgender athletes. György’s critique follows her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, which many believe affected her standings in the NCAA swimming finals.
György was among three female swimmers who approached the Virginia Board of Health last year to advocate for this regulation. Although the board unanimously approved their petition during former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s term, it was retracted in July shortly after Spanberger took office.
“It’s really disheartening for me,” György remarked in an interview, recalling how she filed the petition a year ago with Youngkin’s approval on board. “The goal was to protect female athletes and spaces here in Virginia. Now it feels like we’ve lost that opportunity.”
She expressed her disappointment: “I don’t like to see public power used in ways that harm others—and to think this decision came from a female leader is particularly upsetting.”
György initiated the petition in April 2025 with fellow swimmers Lily Mullens and Carter Satterfield from Roanoke College. Their request for the Board of Health focused on establishing rules that would prevent biological males from joining female sports teams or using spaces designated for women and girls.
After receiving over 2,300 public comments, the board voted unanimously in August 2025 to start the regulatory process, with the Youngkin administration announcing a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action by that November.
However, Spanberger’s administration chose to withdraw the regulatory action on July 30, following an additional public comment period. This decision was made without an accompanying announcement and was only later reflected in the Virginia Register of Regulations.
György wondered why the decision wasn’t better publicized, suggesting that Spanberger might be wary of public reaction. “It feels like she’s concerned about backlash and how people will respond,” György noted, adding, “I’m really curious about what’s driving her choices.”
György’s advocacy is influenced by her own experience at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. She narrowly missed qualifying for the consolation final, finishing 17th in the preliminary 500-yard freestyle—one place behind Thomas, a transgender woman who went on to win the national title.
“Because they let Thomas compete in the women’s category, I got bumped out of the final,” she explained, reflecting on feeling sidelined despite her efforts. “It really felt like that opportunity was taken from me.”
At the championship, she shared a locker room with Thomas, which left her feeling anxious. “You’re just constantly on edge, not knowing when he might come in,” she said, recalling the discomfort of having to undress in a shared space. “It creates a sense of vulnerability you shouldn’t have to deal with.” The long process of putting on racing suits meant quick changes were almost impossible, leading her to feel like she needed to be vigilant about her privacy.
Given these experiences, György became a vocal supporter of sex-segregated sports and private areas. “I felt compelled to speak out because the event’s organizers did nothing to protect female athletes,” she stated. “If I have a daughter someday, I don’t want her to face the same situation.”
Once learning about the controversy surrounding transgender inclusion in sports, György reached out to join the petition efforts initiated by Mullens, Satterfield, and their teammates at Roanoke College. The issue was brought to light again in 2023 when a transgender student sought to compete on the women’s roster, although the student later opted not to participate.
György told reporters that she hasn’t yet reached out to Spanberger but plans to seek a discussion with her about these pressing issues. “I’d like to share my perspective and stress the importance of protecting girls and women in sports,” she said. “Title IX exists for a reason, and it’s essential that we respect those boundaries.”
