Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won’t compete in next month’s Olympics after losing legal battle

American swimmer Lia Thomas will not be allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has lost her battle to compete at the highest level in women’s races, as her attempt to legally challenge the existing rules on trans women’s participation has been rejected.

Transgender women who have gone through male puberty were banned from competing in women’s swimming events by World Aquatics (formerly FINA) – the international water sports federation recognised by the Olympics – in 2022.

Following their decision, Thomas – who became the first openly transgender athlete to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I national championship by winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle event in 2022 – took her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The American athlete claimed that the rules were invalid, unlawful and discriminatory. But two years later, on Wednesday 12 June, judges dismissed her case.

The 25-year-old is an NCAA champion. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This latest ruling means that she will not be allowed to compete in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, which is set to begin on 26 July.

Thomas swam for the University of Pennsylvania men’s team prior to starting hormone replacement therapy in 2019, a year after coming out to her parents.

Thomas labelled the decision as ‘deeply disappointing’, adding: “Blanket bans preventing trans women from competing are discriminatory and deprive us of valuable athletic opportunities that are central to our identities.”

Following her NCAA win in 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not acknowledge her win, instead signing a proclamation to say that runner up Emma Weyant was the rightful winner, criticising the association for letting her compete at all.

When the case started, World Aquatics argued that the case had no basis anyway, as she Thomas not a member of the USA Swimming federation at the time.

She also hadn’t competed in female events for the sole reason of qualifying or being selected for World Aquatics competitions, the organisation claimed.

Lia Thomas hoped to change the rules around trans women competing in elite sport. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In her freshman year, prior to coming out, Thomas set the sixth-fastest national men’s time in the 1,000 yard freestyle.

In their final ruling, the CAS stated: “The panel concludes that she lacks standing to challenge the policy.”

Following this decision, World Aquatics seemed to agree with the ruling, saying: “We believe it is a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport.”

Hudson Taylor, who is the founder of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group in the US, responded to the ruling too.

He said: “It is a sad day for sports and for anyone who believes that trans athletes should have the opportunity for their experiences of discrimination to be heard and adjudicated like everyone else.”

Featured Image Credit: Joseph Prezioso/Getty Iconic Sportswire/Getty