Swimmer Riley 伸び（る）s 激突するs ESPN for 栄誉（を受ける）ing 'arrogant cheat' trans 競技者 Lia Thomas in Women's History Month special - as Thomas 否定するs she 移行d to 勝利，勝つ and says 'I didn't have any other choice'

  • Riley 伸び（る）s, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, who ended her college career in 2022 as a 支持する／優勝者, spoke out Sunday against Lia Thomas
  • Lia Thomas, who swam for the University of Pennsylvania until 卒業生（する）ing in 2022, 粉砕するd 記録，記録的な／記録するs in her final season
  • ESPN paid 尊敬の印 to Thomas - who began 移行ing in May 2019, and swam for the women's team in 2021: 伸び（る）s said ESPN's 尊敬の印 was not 令状d?

By Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

ESPN has been 非難するd by a former 支持する／優勝者 college swimmer for 含むing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas?in their segment 充てるd to Women's History Month - 述べるing the company as 'spineless'.

Riley 伸び（る）s swam for the University of Kentucky, ending her college career in 2022 as 'one of the most decorated swimmers in program history,' によれば the UK website. She became a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and a five-time SEC 支持する／優勝者.

伸び（る）s competed against transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas in the NCAA 選手権s in March 2022, and said the experience of racing Thomas - who raced in the men's 競争 until 2019 - 'felt like I was going into the race with my 手渡すs tied behind my 支援する.'

On Sunday, 伸び（る）s took 問題／発行する with ESPN's 決定／判定勝ち（する） to 賞賛する Thomas's 出資／貢献 to women's sport,?and tweeted the hashtag 'ボイコット（する） ESPN'.

Riley Gaines (right) is seen in March 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia, having swam against Lia Thomas (left) at the NCAA championships

Riley 伸び（る）s (権利) is seen in March 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia, having swam against Lia Thomas (left) at the NCAA 選手権s

'Lia Thomas is not a 勇敢に立ち向かう, 勇敢な woman who EARNED a 国家の 肩書を与える,' 伸び（る）s tweeted.

'He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a 国家の 肩書を与える from a hardworking, deserving woman. The @ncaa is responsible.

'If I was a woman working at ESPN, I would walk out. You're spineless @espn #boycottESPN.'

ESPN's segment was 肩書を与えるd: 'Celebrating Women's History Month'.

A voiceover explained how Thomas made history by becoming the first transgender 競技者 to 勝利，勝つ an NCAA 分割 One 選手権, in 2022, in the 500 自由型.

The Texan-born 競技者 swam in men's 競争s until beginning their 移行 in May 2019, and made her debut in the women's races in December 2021.

'存在 trans is not a choice,' said Thomas. 'I didn't have any other choice because not 移行ing was not getting me anywhere.

'People will say, 'Oh, she just 移行d so she would have an advantage so she could 勝利，勝つ.'

'I 移行d to be happy.'

DailyMail.com has 接触するd both ESPN and Thomas's 代表者／国会議員, and is yet to hear 支援する.?

Lia Thomas is seen in the ESPN clip describing how transitioning was the only o ption for her

Lia Thomas is seen in the ESPN clip 述べるing how 移行ing was the only 選択 for her

Texas-born Thomas is seen in action for the University of Pennsylvania

Texas-born Thomas is seen in 活動／戦闘 for the University of Pennsylvania

Thomas became the first trans athlete to win a NCAA Division One championship title

Thomas became the first trans 競技者 to 勝利，勝つ a NCAA 分割 One 選手権 肩書を与える

Gaines is seen at a rally in January this year?outside of the NCAA Convention in San Antonio

伸び（る）s is seen at a 決起大会／結集させる in January this year?outside of the NCAA 条約 in San Antonio

Thomas's competing as a woman was 高度に 議論の的になる.

The swimmer had been hoping, after 卒業生（する）ing, to try for the Paris 2024 Olympics - but that is now looking ありそうもない given new 支配するs 要求するing trans 競技者s to have 移行d before the age of 12, by June 2022.

伸び（る）s, who 熟考する／考慮するd public health and is now beginning dental school, has become one of the most outspoken 支持するs against trans women in sport.

'Whether they have different 肺 capacities, their 高さ, testosterone levels whether they've used testosterone blockers or not ― it doesn't 抑える going through puberty as a male. 特に Lia, who swam for three years as a male,' 伸び（る）s told Fox News' Tucker Carlson in April 2022.

'Lia Thomas has shown extreme selfishness and a major 欠如（する） of 認識／意識性 ― and just an utter 無視（する） for women.'

伸び（る）s said Thomas's 参加 in women's collegiate swimming is a part of a wider prob lem in society.

'We're watching the 否定 of the most basic of truths,' she said.

'When you can't 認める what a woman is, there's a 抱擁する problem.

'This is deeper than just sports. This is a systematic erasure of what a woman is.'

Lia ThomasTransgender 問題／発行するs

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