Uh-oh, you guys, the anti-science LGBTQIA+ folx are gonna be mad about this one.
Yup, Lia Thomas sued World Aquatics for their rule that requires biological males to have completed their gender transition before the age of 12, which automatically disqualified Thomas (who swam as recently as 2019 in the men's division). The court eventually ruled that Thomas had no standing to sue for the rule, and now Thomas will have to sit out the Olympic games or try out for the men's division, a division where Thomas ranks somewhere around 550th overall.
World Aquatics welcomed the news, hailing it as a 'major step forward in our efforts to protect women's sport.'
The group told the outlet: 'World Aquatics is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders and we reaffirm this pledge.'
They introduced their new rules after Thomas beat Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant by 1.75 sec to win NCAA gold.
In a scientific document backing their ban on those who have 'undergone any part of male puberty', WA said swimmers like Thomas retained physical advantages.
Wow, without this court ruling I'd have had no idea it was unfair for men to compete against women in sports!
"A victory for women and girls everywhere," says one of Thomas' college rivals, Riley Gaines.
I'd love to throw up a "hooray" or a "round of applause" right about now, but I can't help but think of how strange this is.
Think about it, 10 years ago if I told you this was a real story, you'd have called me crazy. You'd have told me to ghostwrite a novel under Kurt Vonnegut's name. Yet here we are. We're seriously having this conversation.
