After finishing second in a championship qualifying race won by University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, a Virginia Tech swimmer lambasted the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete against biological women.
After missing the cut to race in the finals of the 500 free at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, Reka Gyorgy slammed the NCAA in a post to her private Instagram account, according to Fox News.
“It doesn’t promote our sport in a positive way, and I believe it is insulting to the biologically female swimmers that compete in the NCAA,” Gyorgy said of the regulation, which has come under fire since Thomas broke records in her first season competing at the varsity level as a freshman.
Thomas was also blamed by Gyorgy for her failure to qualify. The last spot in the final was taken away from her by the NCAA’s decision to allow someone who is not a biological female to compete, according to the Virginia Tech swimmer.
Thomas finished in 4:33.82 in the preliminary round and went on to win the national women’s 500 free title with a time of 4:33.24 in the finals.
In his letter, Gyorgy requested the college athletics body to change its policy.
“I’d want to emphasize that I totally support and appreciate Lia Thomas; I am convinced that she is no different than me or any other D1 swimmer who has spent her entire life waking up at 5 a.m. for morning practice,” Gyorgy wrote.
“On the other hand, I’d like to criticize the NCAA rules that allow her to compete against biologically female athletes.”
Gyorgy has been a member of the Virginia Tech swim team for the past five years and represented Hungary at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“I know you might argue I had a chance to swim faster and qualify for the top 16, but this circumstance is different, and I can’t help but be furious or unhappy.” Gyorgy wrote, “It damages myself, my team, and other women in the pool.”
“A slot was taken away from the girl who finished 9th in the 500 free and did not advance to the A final, preventing her from being an All-American.” Throughout the tournament, every event in which transgender athletes competed was one slot taken away from biological girls.”
The two-time NACC champion and two-time All-American swimmer claimed the NCAA “knew what was coming this past week,” blaming the organization for creating a media frenzy by failing to address the matter.
“It is the outcome of the NCAA’s lack of concern for the safety of their athletes. I request that the NCAA consider all of the other biological women in swimming, and attempt to imagine how they would feel if they were in our place. Make the necessary reforms for our sport and a brighter swimming future,” Gyorgy stated.
The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
A number of organizations and sportsmen have questioned whether it is fair for a swimmer who was born as a biological male to compete against women.
Earlier this season, the NCAA issued new transgender athlete regulations, essentially leaving eligibility up to individual sports.