Lia Thomas nominated by University of Pennsylvania for NCAA 'Woman of the Year' award
Categories: US Education News
The University of Pennsylvania nominated swimmer Leah Thomasfor the NCAA "Woman of the Year"award. According to an NCAA announcement, the University of Pennsylvanianominated a transgender athlete for the award, which recognizes femalestudent-athletes.
The NCAA nomination page reads, "Institutedin 1991, the award recognizes female student-athletes who have finished theirqualifications and have distinguished themselves in their community inathletics and academics throughout their college careers."NCAA member schools are "encouraged to celebrate their top undergraduatefemale student-athletes by nominating them for the NCAA Woman of the YearAward," the announcement reads.
After member schools make their nominations, their conventioncan then select a maximum of two nominees. Thomas, a formerUniversity of Pennsylvania swimmer, won the 500-yard freestyleevent at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday. Herparticipation in college women's swimming has sparked national debate, with somesaying she has an unfair advantage over other athletes.
“Most of us female athletes, or women in general, arereally, not okay with it, and they are not okay with its trajectory and how itis going and how it might end in a few years,” Gaines Sen on the "UnmutedWith Marsha" podcast.
Marsha Blackburn, R-Ten. She was referring to the NCAA'srefusal to change the rules to protect competition in women's sports. TheUniversity of Pennsylvania also nominated Iulia Brezhgalova, who plays tennisat the school, for the award.