Lia Thomas Loses Legal Battle, Will Not Compete in Women’s Swimming at 2024 Olympics

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas will not be taking a spot from a female athlete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Thomas, a biological male who won a women’s NCAA national title in 2022 while swimming for the University of Pennsylvania, has officially lost a legal case against World Aquatics. Thomas had challenged the organization’s ban on biological males competing against females, calling it “invalid and unlawful.”

The 25-year-old was barred from competing in women’s swimming events in the summer of 2022 when World Aquatics implemented a policy prohibiting athletes who had undergone “any part of male puberty” from participating in the female category.

World Aquatics praised the court’s decision to uphold the policy, calling it “a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sports.”

“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,” the organization said, according to The Guardian.

It’s important to note that World Aquatics has not banned transgender athletes from competition entirely. The organization created an “open” category specifically for transgender swimmers. However, during its debut opportunity at last year’s Berlin World Cup, the category did not receive a single entry.

Thomas, who was an average swimmer when competing against men, is no longer a member of U.S. Swimming. That fact made it easier for the court to dismiss Thomas’ case.

“The panel concludes that since the Athlete is not entitled to participate in ‘Elite Event’ competitions under USA Swimming policy—let alone World Aquatics competitions—the eligibility requirements are simply not triggered by her current status,” the court stated, according to reports.

The U.S. Olympic Trials are set to begin June 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, marking the first time the trials will be held on a football field.

Back in 2022, after being honored by ESPN and ABC during Women’s History Month, Thomas expressed in an interview with Good Morning America that competing at the 2024 Olympic Trials had long been a goal.

“It’s been a goal of mine to swim in Olympic trials for a very long time and I would love to see that through,” Thomas said at the time.

With the court’s ruling, female athletes will now have the full opportunity to compete for a place on the U.S. women’s swim team and represent America in Paris.