Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared Florida native Emma Weyant, a swimmer at the University of Virginia, the winner of the 500y freestyle over Lia Thomas in a proclamation.
Weyant finished a second behind Thomas at the NCAA Championships last week in Georgia. Videos showed people booing Thomas while cheering loudly for Weyant.
DeSantis brings up his Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which he signed in 2021, that bans transgender women from female sports in his proclamation.
The governor also criticizes the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete against biological females. Instead of taking a stance, the NCAA deferred “to the guidance of each sport’s governing body.” Its decision went into effect this month and started with the swimming championships.
The NCAA also decided not to adopt USA Swimming’s new testosterone policy. We do not know if Thomas is eligible:
The previously approved NCAA testosterone threshold is 10 nmol/L, and it is unknown whether Thomas is eligible based on that number. If she is, she will be able to compete at the NCAA Championships. The CSMAS (the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports) reviewed the policy, along with the new USA Swimming policy (5 nmol/L) before making the decision.“The subcommittee decided implementing additional changes at this time could have unfair and potentially detrimental impacts on schools and student-athletes intending to compete in 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships,” the NCAA wrote in a press release.
Weyant won a silver medal at the Olympics for the 400-meter individual medley race at the Olympics. She won silver at the World Championships, too.
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