Commonwealth Policy Center

ESPN recognized Lia Thomas in a Women’s History Month special. The segment honored Thomas for being the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship title by winning the 500 freestyle race. But is this something to celebrate? Lia Thomas is a biological male. He stands ahead above his competition. None of these women stood a chance against him. Is celebrating him advancing fair competition in women’s sports? The special comes after World Athletics, which governs international tournaments for sports like track and field and cross country, decided to ban men who identify as women from participating in women’s competitions. If ESPN plans to cover a category called “women’s sports,” they might want to rethink highlighting a man for dominating a woman’s competition.