Transgender Lia Thomas Nominated For NCAA Woman Of The Year, Swimming World Is Rowdy

Lia Thomas (Instagram @liathomas)

JAKARTA - Controversy continues over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who was nominated by the University of Pennsylvania for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Thomas became the first non-biological woman to win this very important award for collegiate sport in the United States.

This nomination did not get a positive response from many people, one of which was Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines who took the opportunity to show his position.

"Being the real girl in the photo and also a University of Kentucky nominee for the NCAA WOTY, this is another slap in the face for women. First a women's national title and now nominated for top honors in collegiate athletics," Gaines wrote on her Twitter account. "@NCAA has made this award worthless,"

After being allowed to compete with women, Thomas became the first transgender woman to win a swimming competition in the Ivy League and NCAA. However, the controversy reached such a high point that FINA decided to withdraw from that inclusion policy and Thomas currently no longer has the support to compete in the women's group.

"This award combines athletic performance with academics, service, and character. What character has Thomas shown besides selfishness and entitlement? The disrespect and disregard for other female athletes in Thomas's interview has been eye-opening," Gaines wrote.

Gaines and Thomas compete for the award

Gaines is a nominee from the University of Kentucky for the NCAA award, and each school has the power to nominate one of its athletes. So, not only they will compete for the award.

"I realized I was facing a department full of amazing female student athletes, so I am very grateful and always proud to be a Wildcat. I love England and the Big Blue Nation very much," said Gaines.