Lia Thomas' NCAA title win is not being recognised by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. The 22-year-old made history as the first known transgender athlete to win a US college swimming championship when she took the title in Atlanta.
Her win has proved to be a controversial one as those who oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sport are in uproar with the result. One of whom is DeSantis, who issued a proclamation that a resident of his state is the “rightful” holder of the NCAA 500m freestyle title.
Florida native Emma Weyant finished second to Thomas, and DeSantis claims she should be declared the winner. “It is my determination that men should not be competing against women such as Emma Weyant,” DeSantis wrote.
