Trans woman Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award
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 [July 20, 2022] (Reuters)
- The University of Pennsylvania has
nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for the 2022 NCAA Woman of
the Year award, the American college sports regulating body said.
Thomas shot to fame earlier this year when she became the first
transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the
women's 500-yard freestyle in March and she had hoped to compete for
a place at the Olympics.
But soon after, she became the focus of a raging debate when
swimming's world governing body FINA voted last month to restrict
the participation of transgender athletes in elite women's
competitions.
Thomas competed on Pennsylvania's men's team for three years before
transitioning and moving to the women's team, setting multiple
programme records.
Her eligibility had come under considerable scrutiny, including from
several Pennsylvania team mates.
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Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas holds a trophy after finishing first
in the 500 free at the NCAA Womens Swimming & Diving Championships
at Georgia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA said member schools nominated a total of
577 graduating student-athletes. Each school can recognise up to two
female athletes and Thomas had been nominated for swimming and
diving in Division I.
The Woman of the Year selection committee will select 10
student-athletes from each of the three NCAA divisions. Of the top
30, the committee will then announce nine finalists -- three from
each division.
The winner will be named at the NCAA Convention in January in San
Antonio.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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