Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has revealed she felt "devastated" and experienced "grief" after being banned from competing against biological women.
Thomas made these comments whilst serving as a keynote speaker at HiTOPS' annual Trans Youth Forum at the weekend.
It marked the first time this year that the 25-year-old has spoken publicly about transgender inclusion in sports.
The hour-long moderated discussion on 29 March focused on her identity and experience as a transgender woman.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has revealed she felt "devastated" and experienced "grief" after being banned from competing against biological women
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HiTOPS, a nonprofit organisation aiming to provide an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ youth in New Jersey, hosted Thomas as part of the discussion.
During the session, Thomas discussed her journey as a swimmer and the fulfilment of competing after transitioning.
She also spoke about a lack of education and knowledge of "what being trans was" growing up in her hometown in Texas.
Thomas emphasised the importance of transgender representation in sports during the forum.
She noted that after her time at Penn University, she feels some responsibility fighting for transgender inclusion in sports.
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Lia Thomas was banned from competing against biological women in 2022 before seeing an appeal fail last year
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Thomas revealed that competing as a college swimmer after coming out as transgender initially "seemed an impossible step".
"I looked up the NCAA transgender policy [during freshman fall] and knew it might be technically possible. ... I didn't think that I could do it," Thomas said.
"But my love of swimming kept me going. ... When I had transitioned, I felt more comfortable, and I said, 'I can do this. I could do both.'"
Thomas competed for Penn women's swimming team during the 2021-22 season after her transition.
The swimmer asserted that competition categories in sports should be "athlete-driven".
"It has to be the athletes deciding for themselves where they feel most affirmed and most comfortable," she said.
Responding to World Aquatics' 2022 decision prohibiting transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in women's events, Thomas expressed deep distress.
"I felt so devastated and [felt] grief over losing this access to my sport," she said.
"There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to fight this, that this is my sport too, and I'm not just gonna give it up to trans folks."
Thomas received consistent national media attention during her competitive swimming career, especially after her success at conference and national levels.
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On 4 February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports.
The NCAA subsequently updated its policies to align with the order.
On 11 February, the Department of Education urged the NCAA to reallocate titles earned by transgender athletes, including Thomas.
The Trump administration later froze over $175 million of Penn's federal funding, citing the University allowing Thomas to compete on the women's team.
Lia Thomas became a swimming sensation before being banned from the sport
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Despite the backlash, Thomas said she continued swimming because of her love for the sport.
While she no longer competes, the athlete still returns to the pool as a safe haven, as it was before she transitioned.
"It's a reclamation of my body in a way where I've gone through such a wide emotional arc of how I feel about my body and how I feel in it it's now a celebration of how far I've come and how much more comfortable I feel now," she said.
"I'm so happy to have opportunities like this where I can share my story, and hopefully be that inspiration for other people."
