Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas blitzes US rivals at college championships

The top-ranked swimmer, who was rated 462nd as a male, beat her nearest rival by more than seven seconds in their final.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas looks on after swimming the 500 freestyle during the 2022 Ivy League Womens Swimming and Diving Championships in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Picture: Getty Images

Transgender athlete Lia Thomas has blitzed her rivals on the way to victory in the 500-yard (457m) freestyle event at the Ivy League Championships, at Harvard University on Thursday.

The University of Pennsylvania swimmer won her first ever individual title at the college event by more than seven seconds over the second-placed finisher, clocking a time of 4min 37.32sec.

Her time established a new record at the pool, breaking the mark set by 2012 Olympian Kate Ziegler.

Thomas smiles on the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle. Picture: Getty Images

ESPN reports that Penn team-mates Catherine Buroker, who finished second, and fourth-placed Anna Kalandadze applauded as the No.1-ranked Thomas received her medal.

The 22-year-old had previously competed for the university as Will Thomas for three years and was ranked No.462 in the NCAA.

Thomas began the transition to a female in 2019 and has undergone two years of hormone replacement as part of the process.

In early December, she recorded the best performances of the year at university level, in the 200-yard (183m) freestyle (1min 41.93sec) and in the 500-yard freestyle (4min 34.06sec).

The impressive feats have stirred controversy about the fairness of her being allowed to compete against biological women in a women’s event.

Thomas finishes the 200-yard freestyle for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University in January. Picture: AFP

Some team-mates have spoken out anonymously against her inclusion in the women’s team.

US swimming authorities have instituted a requirement that transgender women must suppress testosterone levels for three years before they are allowed to compete, but college’s governing body the NCAA has so far ruled Thomas will be able to compete at its championships in March.

The Women’s Sports Policy Working Group say the recently instituted rules are insufficient, especially in cases where an athlete has begun her transition after puberty.

Thomas has talked about her transition, saying she is “thrilled to be able to continue to swim. I love to compete ... I’m very proud of my times and my ability to keep swimming and keep competing.”