Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA 2022 Woman of the Year Award

The Ivy League swimmer has been nominated for the Division I Athletes for Swimming and Diving. NCAA website. The award aims to honor “academic performance, athletics excellence, community service, and leadership for female college athletes who have graduated from all three categories.” Website.

March, Thomas Became the first transgender athlete He first finished in a women’s 500-yard freestyle event, set the fastest time of the NCAA season, and then won the NCAA Division I title. With her victory, she became the first transgender athlete to win a DI title in any sport.

Thomas, who previously swam for Penn’s men’s team, renewed attention to the discussion of trans women’s participation in sports and the balance between inclusion and fair play. During a certain time National states Pass the bill We aim to curb the rights of transgender people.

She first got the attention when she set the best time of the NCAA season in 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races at Zippy Invitational in Ohio in December.And she won 100 yards, 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races at the Ivy League Women’s Championship in February.

“I knew I would be scrutinized against me if I competed as a woman. I was ready for that,” she said in an interview. “But I am myself and I don’t need anyone’s permission to play the sport I love.”

“There are many factors to participate in the race,” Thomas said, but the biggest difference now is that transgender women are “not a threat to women’s sports,” adding that she is happy. ..

According to the organization’s website, the Woman of the Year Selection Committee will select 30 winners and announce 9 finalists from them. There are 3 people from each NCAA department. According to the site, the NCAA Women’s Athletics Commission will consider these finalists before deciding on the 2022 NCAA Women of the Year.

This year’s women will be nominated at the NCAA Convention.