Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, has expressed her relief over the news that Thomas will not be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games. Scanlan has gone a step further by demanding an apology for being “forced to undress” with the transgender athlete multiple times a week.
The 25-year-old Thomas, who swam for the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s team for three seasons before undergoing hormone replacement therapy in early 2019, had her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed. This decision effectively ended her hopes of competing at the Olympic Games.
Scanlan took to social media shortly after the verdict was announced, tweeting: “Okay, but is anyone going to apologize for forcing us to undress with him 18 times a week?” Her tweet, which garnered widespread attention, highlights the discomfort and concerns that some of Thomas’ teammates experienced.
Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win the women’s NCAA college swimming title in March 2022, sparking a heated debate around the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. In response, World Aquatics (WA) introduced a rule change that would prevent anyone who had undergone “any part of male puberty” from competing in the female category, creating an “open” category for transgender athletes instead.
Unsatisfied with the rule change, Thomas requested the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the rules approved in 2022, arguing that they were “invalid, unlawful, and discriminatory.” However, the panel dismissed Thomas’ request, citing a technicality: Thomas was “simply not entitled to engage with eligibility to compete in WA competitions such as the Olympics or world championships” because she was no longer a part of US swimming.
While Thomas expressed disappointment over the decision, Scanlan’s demand for an apology highlights the ongoing tensions and differing perspectives surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. As the debate continues, finding a balanced approach that respects the rights and concerns of all athletes remains a complex challenge.
