“It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time, and I would love to see that through,” said Lia Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in 2022. However, before the upcoming trials, her dreams of competing on the biggest stage ended as she lost a legal case against World Aquatics at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The CAS concluded that Thomas was “simply not entitled to engage with eligibility to compete in WA competitions.” Many also deemed that her time living as a man gave her an unfair advantage over the other female swimmers. This controversy stemmed from when World Aquatics introduced new rules after Thomas beat Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant to win NCAA gold in the women’s 500-yard freestyle in 2022.

World Aquatics soon voted to restrict transgender athletes from elite women’s competitions, arguing that those who have gone through male puberty retain physical advantages even if they later reduce their testosterone levels. Thomas then took her case to the CAS to challenge these rules.

World Aquatics shared that the decision was “a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport,” but Lia Thomas found the CAS ruling “deeply disappointing.” While this case raises profound questions about fairness, inclusivity, and the evolution of competitive sport, her height has been one of the focal points of discussion. Standing 6 ft 1 in (185 cm), Thomas is taller than most American women swimming icons. A height like Thomas’ would mean she has a longer reach, which can be an advantage in certain strokes, such as the butterfly and backstroke. With the 2024 Olympics Trials just around the corner, lets see how Lia Thomas compares to USA Swimming’s best female athletes in height.

Height comparisons between Lia Thomas and USA’s top female swimming icons

Thomas’s height of 1.85 meters is taller than the average height for both men (1.75 meters) and women (1.63 meters). This physical advantage over many of her competitors led to some controversy over her participation in women’s swimming. However, there are several other female swimmers whose heights are above the average.

Katie Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, is just a bit shorter at 6 ft 0 in (183 cm).

Kate Douglass, who snagged a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and is considered one of the greatest swimmers in NCAA history, stands at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Regan Smith, a three-time Olympic medalist, is 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).

Torri Huske, who won a silver medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, is 5 ft 8 in (173 cm).

Alex Walsh, like Ledecky, is also 6 ft 0 in (183 cm).

Interestingly, Lia’s height matches her younger sister, Gretchen Walsh, who has had an incredible run in the NCAA. Gretchen became the fastest female freshman to swim the 50-yard freestyle in 2022, earned NCAA titles in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-meter butterfly, and set an American record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.26 seconds. She also won the NCAA Division I title in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 45.61. Gretchen is also 6 ft 1 in (185 cm).

Other notable swimmers include:

Claire Curzan, an Olympic silver medalist in the 4×100-meter medley relay, is 5 ft 8 in (173 cm).

Abby Weitzel, a four-time Olympic medalist, stands at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Lily King, who has five Olympic medals, is 5 ft 8.5 in (174 cm).

Simone Manuel, another five-time Olympic medalist, is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Leah Smith, a two-time Olympic medalist, is also 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Katie Grimes is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Claire Weinstein is 6 ft 0 in (183 cm).

Bella Sims is 5 ft 6 in (168 cm).

Leah Hayes is 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).

Despite the height differences, did you know that while Thomas achieved a significant milestone at the NCAA in 2022, Katie Ledecky and Kate Douglass have towered over her at the NCAA?

How Thomas did not match up to icons like Kate Douglass and Katie Ledecky

While Kate Douglass and Katie Ledecky might not quite match the towering stature of Lia Thomas, let’s dive into a comparison of their NCAA swimming records. At the NCAA Division I national championship, Lia Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle in 4:33.24. She was closely followed by Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant, who was just 1.75 seconds behind.

Interestingly, Thomas didn’t break any swimming records during that event. In contrast, Kate Douglass set an astonishing 18 NCAA records. And when you compare Thomas’ time to Katie Ledecky’s NCAA record of 4:24.06 set in 2017, there’s a noticeable difference—Thomas was 9.18 seconds slower. Reflecting on these comparisons, what are your thoughts about the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling against Lia Thomas and the regulations set by World Aquatics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!