Penn swimmer Lia Thomas is now a political pawn.
Thomas’ national championship in the women’s 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships on Saturday has made her a target for Republican politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The potential candidate for president in 2024 signed a proclamation Tuesday claiming that Virginia swimmer Emma Weyant was the rightful winner of the event.
Weyant, a native of Florida, finished second, nearly two seconds behind Thomas, who was competing in her first NCAA championships as a woman. Thomas, who began her career as William Thomas on Penn’s men’s team, competed as a woman in 2021-22 after undergoing hormone treatments.