Lia Thomas: Photos Of The Division 1 Athlete

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May 24, 2022 9:06PM EDT

Lia Thomas is best known as an openly transgender athlete who won the NCAA Division 1 national championship in 2022. See pics of her here.

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Lia Thomas in the pool

Lia Thomas in the pool — Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet with Harvard at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. The University of Pennsylvania said it will worked with the NCAA under its newly adopted standards for transgender athletes.

Lia competed on the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s swimming team until she came out as a transgender woman in 2019. After the COVID pandemic halted the school sport for a year, she came back to compete for the school on the women’s swim team. She ended up winning the NCAA Division I national championship in March 2022 and has made quite the impression on the sport and the transgender community she represents.

Although she’s had to face criticisim from those who don’t believe she should be competing against other women as a transgender, she’s stood her ground and has spoken out on her beliefs many times. She’a also inspired others for speaking up for herself and not letting the negativity rule her life.

“I’m a woman, just like anybody else on the team,” she told Sports Illustrated about the controversy about her and other transgender athletes. “I’ve always viewed myself as just a swimmer. It’s what I’ve done for so long; it’s what I love. I get into the water every day and do my best.”

Click through the gallery to see some of the best pics of Lia.

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Lia Thomas on senior day

Lia Thomas on senior day — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas looks on as she celebrates senior day with her teammates during a swim meet in Philadelphia. Three years prior, she was on the men’s team for Penn.

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Lia Thomas smiles

Lia Thomas smiles — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas, center, Yale’s Iszak Henig, left, and Princeton’s Nikki Venema stand on the podium following a medal ceremony after Thomas won the 100-yard freestyle, Henig finished second and Venema third at the Ivy League women’s swimming and diving championships at Harvard, in Cambridge, MA. Lia was all smiles during the special moment.

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Lia Thomas hugs a fellow swimmer

Lia Thomas hugs a fellow swimmer — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas, right, gets a hug from Yale’s Iszak Henig after Thomas won the 100-yard freestyle final and Henig finished second at the Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA. Thomas, who was transitioning to female, was swimming for the Penn women’s team and Henig, who was transitioning to male was swimming for the Yale women’s team.

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Lia Thomas holds up her hands

Lia Thomas holds up her hands — Members of Pennsylvania’s 400 yard freestyle relay team, from left, Margot Kaczorowski, Hannah Kannan and Lia Thomas, right, celebrate after winning the race at the Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA. Lia looked thrilled!

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Lia Thomas poses

Lia Thomas poses — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the Women’s NCAA 500 meter freestyle swimming championship start at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. She looked ready to go!

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Lia Thomas walking

Lia Thomas walking — University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat of the 500 meter freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. She had a jacket over her shoulders to keep warm.

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Lia Thomas looks ready

Lia Thomas looks ready — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas prepares to swim the women’s 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas, who won, is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship.

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Lia Thomas waiting

Lia Thomas waiting — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the Women’s NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming championship start, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She looked focused.

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Lia Thomas hold a trophy

Lia Thomas hold a trophy — University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas holds her trophy after finishing tied for fifth in the 200 freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She posed for pics.

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Lia Thomas in Atlanta

Lia Thomas in Atlanta — Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas waits for results after swimming the women’s 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She did amazing!

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