Career Timeline of Lia Thomas: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lia Thomas made an impact.

Lia Thomas is an American swimmer notable for being the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, securing victory in the women's 500-yard freestyle in 2022. Subsequently, she was barred from women's events by World Aquatics. Thomas's athletic career has become central to the ongoing public discussion and debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2017: Began Swimming on Men's Team at UPenn

In 2017, Lia Thomas began swimming on the men's team at the University of Pennsylvania and recorded the sixth-fastest national men's time in the 1,000-yard freestyle.

2018: Ranked 554th in 200 Freestyle

During the 2018–2019 season, while competing on the men's team, Lia Thomas was ranked 554th in the 200 freestyle.

2018: Continued Swimming on Men's Team at UPenn

In 2018, Lia Thomas continued on the men's swim team at the University of Pennsylvania.

2019: Ranked 65th in 500 Freestyle and 32nd in 1650 Freestyle

During the 2018–2019 season, while competing on the men's team, Lia Thomas was ranked 65th in the 500 freestyle and 32nd in the 1650 freestyle.

2019: Peak Performance in Distance Swimming

In 2019, Lia Thomas's event progression peaked for distance swimming.

2019: Finished Second at Ivy League Championships

In 2019, as a sophomore, Lia Thomas finished second in the men's 500, 1,000, and 1,650-yard freestyle at the Ivy League championships while competing on the men's swim team at the University of Pennsylvania.

2020: Swam on Men's Team

During the 2019–2020 academic year, Lia Thomas was required to swim for the men's team as a junior while undergoing hormone therapy.

2021: Met NCAA Hormone Therapy Requirements

By 2021, Lia Thomas had met the NCAA hormone therapy requirements to swim on the women's team.

2021: Rank Increased on Women's Team

By the conclusion of Lia Thomas's swimming career at UPenn in 2022, her rank had moved from 65th on the men's team to 1st on the women's team in the 500-yard freestyle, and 554th on the men's team to fifth on the women's team in the 200-yard freestyle during the 2021-2022 season.

2021: Drop in Distance Swimming Times

During the 2021–2022 season, Lia Thomas experienced a drop in times for distance swimming, but sprint swimming reflected a dip at the start of 2021–2022 season before returning to near-lifetime bests in the 100 free and a lifetime personal best in the 50 free in 2021.

2021: Ranked Fifth in 200 Freestyle

During the 2021–2022 season, competing in the women's team, Lia Thomas was ranked fifth in the 200 freestyle.

January 10, 2022: The Washington Post Article

On January 10, 2022, The Washington Post wrote, "Thomas has shattered school records and has posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two events this season. She'll probably be a favorite at the NCAA championships in March, even as people inside and outside the sport debate her place on the pool deck."

January 2022: Finished 6th in 100m Freestyle Against Yale

In January 2022, at a meet against Yale, Lia Thomas finished in 6th place in the 100m freestyle race, losing to four cisgender women and Iszac Henig, a transgender man.

March 2022: Won NCAA Division I National Championship

In March 2022, Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:33.24; Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant was second.

March 2022: Last College Swimming Event

The March 2022 NCAA championship was Lia Thomas's last college swimming event.

May 2022: Defended Herself and Expressed Intent to Keep Swimming

In a May 2022 interview with Good Morning America, Lia Thomas defended herself from criticism and stated her intention to keep swimming and to compete at the Olympic trials.

June 2022: FINA Voted to Bar Transgender Athletes

In June 2022, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) voted to bar transgender athletes from competing in professional women's swimming, preventing Lia Thomas from competing in the women's competition at the 2024 United States Olympic trials as she had planned.

2022: Drop in Distance Swimming Times

2022: Ranked First in 500 Freestyle and Eighth in 1,650 Freestyle

During the 2021–2022 season, competing in the women's team, Lia Thomas was ranked first in the 500 freestyle and eighth in the 1,650 freestyle.

2022: Swam on Women's Team

In 2021–2022, Lia Thomas swam on the women's team after taking a year off school to maintain her eligibility to compete while competitive swimming was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Wins NCAA Division I National Championship

In 2022, Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle event, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, before being barred from competing in women's events by World Aquatics.