The debate over trans athletes rages on
Lia Thomas has been labelled a controversial sporting figure amid her success in the NCAA swimming championships but while many argue that the transgender athlete has an unfair advantage over those born female, the stats aren’t exactly there to back it up.
As per research by the Independent, aside from having undergone hormone replacement therapy since 2019, while Thomas’ results were impressive, they weren’t record-breaking.
In fact, in 27 all-time NCAA records broken in the competition overall – a whopping 18 were broken by Kate Douglass of the University of Virginia – while Thomas’s times weren’t amongst them whatsoever.
Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle race in 4m 33.24s, a title which she had stripped after a decision from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. She also came fifth in the 200-yard race (1m 43.40s) and eighth in the 100-yard race (48.40s).
Regardless, according to USA Swimming records, the Floridian swimmer’s 500-yard time is just above average and makes her the 15th fastest college swimmer, about nine seconds behind Katie Ledecky’s leading record set in 2017.
Meanwhile, both her 200 and 100-yard times are just below average (47.06s and 1m 42.85 respectively). Pre transition, she was also more than 10 seconds off the male record.
The Independent aren’t the only ones to notice the statistical gap:
The idea that she has competed as a woman "because she couldn't compete as a male" is ridiculous considering exactly how close she was to beating male records before transition.
If anything, this shows how much transition affects even elite athletes.
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) December 30, 2021
Many are also pointing out that her other finishes in the 100 and 200-yard events don’t exactly chime with the supposed “dominance” many fear she may establish:
the singular event. Lia placed 5th & 8th in her other events, yet many places that highlight her “dominance” fail to mention this. Please stop highlighting women’s sports by disparaging trans women athletes. Clearly outlets have the capacity to cover women’s sports, so how
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) March 23, 2022
Many have also highlighted the stark contrast between this case and South African runner Caster Semenya, who was banned from competing in women’s events despite being born a female because of high testosterone levels – something she refused to take medication to reduce.
I don't think people are being transphobic when they are calling out a clear double standard.
Caster Semenya is BLACK & intersex but she can't compete with women. Lia Thomas is WHITE & transgender but she is allowed to compete.
The rules are clearly different for WHITE people https://t.co/t4hH2B7TA1
— Y A Y A 💋 (@AllAboutAyanda) March 19, 2022
On the other hand, some believe that a physical advantage may not necessarily be the single, driving factor:
It may be that she retains a significant metabolic and physiological advantage. It may be that she is an outlier. It may also be that she is swimming faster relative to her competitors than before in part because she is in a better place now no longer battling gender dysphoria.
— Marcus™ (@marcmwengu_) March 21, 2022
Related links:
- Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard named sportswoman of the year in New Zealand
- Mesut Ozil ‘suspended indefinitely’ from Fenerbahce squad
- Former WRU employee accuses individuals of joking about raping her and comparing her to Hitler
