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EXCLUSIVE: Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert is leading a resolution in the House of Representatives to honor the runner-up to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas as the “rightful winner” of the NCAA Women’s 500-yard freestyle swim.
University of Virginia swimmer and Olympic medalist Emma Weyant came in second place on March 17 at the national championship event by 1.75 seconds. Thomas made history as being the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship — an honor that has drawn plenty of controversy.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., speaks at a news conference held by members of the House Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 29, 2021, to complain about Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and masking policies. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
“It’s the women’s race, and a man improperly took the first place title from Emma,” Boebert told Fox News Digital in an interview. “When it comes to competitive sports, biology should really triumph (over) ideology.”
Boebert said she doesn’t know Weyant and hasn’t spoken to her, but was motivated to author the resolution because, “I truly believe in giving honor where honor is due and Emma is absolutely worthy of honor.”
Thomas previously competed as a male at the University of Pennsylvania for three years, but after going through hormone-replacement therapy and following the NCAA rules, she competed on the Penn women’s team and began shattering school and Ivy League records.
“Mediocre male athletes who want first place rather than 450th should simply try harder and not to pretend to be something that they’re not,” Boebert said, alluding to Thomas’ rankings as a male swimmer.
LIA THOMAS WIN AT NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATLANTA DRAWS PROTESTORS
Boebert’s two-page resolution praises the 20-year-old Weyant as a role model and honors her many accomplishments, including her silver medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley.
Transgender woman Lia Thomas (L) of the University of Pennsylvania stands on the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle as other medalists (L-R) Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brooke Forde pose for a photo at the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Emma Weyant of Team United States poses with the silver medal for the Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
“Emma Weyant’s first place medal was stolen from her by a man competing in women’s swimming,” the resolution states as it names her the “rightful winner.”
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis last week issued a proclamation that Weyant — a Florida native — is the rightful winner. The move by a possible presidential contender was panned by certain critics as cheap political stunt.
DESANTIS DECLARES RUNNER-UP IN NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING EVENT THE WINNER OVER LIA THOMAS
Boebert’s resolution has little chance of passing the Democratic-led House. On whether her bill is a political ploy, the freshman lawmaker said: “It’s a very cheap ploy of Lia Thomas to do what he’s done. That’s what’s a cheap ploy here. For a male athlete who was ranking 450th in his own division to pretend to be a woman, so he can then go and crush women’s dreams and careers.”
Lia Thomas looks on from the podium after finishing fifth in the 200 Yard Freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Boebert has several co-sponsors — all Republicans: Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Mary Miller of Illinois, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Jody Hice of Georgia, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Alex Mooney of West Virginia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Chip Roy of Texas, Brian Mast of Florida, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Rodney Davis of Illinois.
Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas prepares to swim the women’s 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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“No girl should be robbed of athletic opportunities by being forced to compete with biological males in school sports,” Miller said in a statement. “These overreaching policies don’t empower women, they threaten our daughters’ safety, education, and opportunities.”
After the winning race, Thomas didn’t participate in the official news conference as required by the NCAA, but addressed the controversy in an interview with ESPN.
“I try to ignore it as much as I can,” Thomas said. “I try to focus on my swimming, what I need to do to get ready for my races. And just try to block out everything else.”
