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University of Pennsylvania Revokes Lia Thomas’s Swimming Records
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has rescinded three women’s swimming records held by transgender athlete Lia Thomas. The move comes as part of a resolution with the U.S.
Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) following an investigation into alleged Title IX violations. The records will be returned to the cisgender athletes who originally held them, with an added note clarifying that Thomas’s records were set “under eligibility rules in effect at the time.”
UPenn will also issue apologies to affected athletes and commit to using “biology-based” definitions of gender in athletics going forward.
This decision has reignited the debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports, drawing sharp reactions from both sides. Former ESPN commentator Keith Olbermann took to social media to criticize former competitive swimmer and outspoken activist Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Olbermann’s remarks sparked a heated exchange with Gaines, who pointedly questioned Thomas’s performance while competing on the men’s team.
Gaines expressed vindication at the record reversal, stating to FOX News that it was a “fantastic day for sanity, for common sense, but I think more broadly for women, for humanity.” This latest clash between Olbermann and Gaines follows previous public disagreements, highlighting the ongoing cultural divide over inclusivity and fairness in women’s sports. The Department of Education’s involvement signals increasing federal scrutiny of gender definitions in collegiate athletics.