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 who gained national attention as the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 2022. Her participation in women's swimming sparked significant debate about the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports, particularly regarding fairness and competitive balance. Following policy changes by World Aquatics, Thomas became ineligible to compete in women's events. Her career has been at the forefront of discussions concerning transgender athletes and sports regulations.

Sections (4)

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

2017: Joins UPenn men's swim team

In 2017, Lia Thomas began swimming on the men's team at the University of Pennsylvania. During her freshman year, she achieved notable times in freestyle events.

2019: Ranked in Men's Team

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: Finished second at Ivy League championships

In 2019, Lia Thomas finished second in the men's 500, 1,000, and 1,650-yard freestyle at the Ivy League championships as a sophomore.

2019: Peak in Distance Swimming

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

2021: Meets NCAA Hormone Therapy Requirements

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

January 10, 2022: Article Highlights Performance

On January 10, 2022, The Washington Post wrote that Lia Thomas had shattered school records and posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two events that season.

January 2022: Finishes Sixth in Race 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 a transgender man.

March 2022: Wins NCAA Championship

In March 2022, Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport, winning the women's 500-yard freestyle.

March 2022: Last College Swimming Event

In March 2022, the NCAA championship was Lia Thomas's last college swimming event at UPenn.

June 2022: FINA Bars 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 2024 Olympic trials.

2022: Drop in Distance Swimming Times

During the 2021-2022 season, Lia Thomas experienced a drop in times for distance swimming events.

2022: Ranked in Women's Team

During the 2021-2022 season, when competing on the women's team, Lia Thomas achieved ranks of first in the 500 freestyle and eighth in the 1,650 freestyle.

2022: Wins NCAA Championship

In 2022, Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle event at the NCAA Division I National Championship, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to achieve this. Later in 2022, she was barred from competing in women's events by World Aquatics.

2024: Prevented from Olympic Trials

In June 2022, the FINA decision to bar transgender athletes from competition effectively prevented Lia Thomas from competing in the 2024 United States Olympic trials as she had planned.