“What Is Wrong With You?”: Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova Reacts to NCAA Celebrating Lia Thomas With Nomination for ‘Woman of the Year’

The University of Pennsylvania nominated Ivy League swimmer Lia Thomas for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award. As a trans athlete, Thomas has become the face of the debate on transgender women in sports. And many stand against their inclusion in women’s sports. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressed her discontent with the nomination.

The decision to nominate Lia Thomas has gained massive backlash from the public and many other athletes. 

Martina Navratilova calls out NCAA

Last week, the NCAA released a list of 577 graduating student-athletes for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, put forth swim star Lia Thomas as their pick for the honor. And her status as a transgender woman has led many to feel offended by this nomination.

Martina Navratilova, who enjoys the reputation of being one of the greatest tennis players of all time, also spoke out against the nomination. She condemned the NCAA for accepting it. The 18 major singles titles holder wrote on Twitter, “Not enough fabulous biological women athletes, NCAA?!? What is wrong with you?!!!!!!!?” 

When fans showed disapproval at her words, she responded, “So I should be happy that biological women are pushed aside when it comes to sports? Not on your life… #biologymatters. Do you understand the difference?” The reaction from Navratilova isn’t unexpected, as many hold a similar stance on the issue.

Former Kentucky swimming star Riley Gaines also condemned UPenn’s decision. The debate on the validity of trans athletes participating in women’s sports has been going on for a long time. And Thomas, who previously swam for the men’s team at UPenn, has become the face of its current rendition.

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Lia Thomas became the first trans athlete to win NCAA D-I title

Starting with the 2021-2022 season, Lia Thomas started competing for the women’s team. In March, the UPenn swimmer took home the women’s 500-yard freestyle title, making her the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title.

She started gaining public attention with the Zippy Invitational in Ohio in December. Here, she set NCAA season-best times in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races. Subsequently, she won multiple titles at the Ivy League women’s championships in February.

Thomas began hormone replacement therapy in 2019. Corresponding to NCAA protocols, she took a year off from competition before she joined the women’s team. She talked to CNN about her experience, sharing, “That’s part of what kept me from transitioning for so long. The thing is, I wasn’t sure if I could continue swimming and doing the sport that I love.”

But her conviction to continue swimming didn’t dull. “I knew there would be scrutiny against me if I competed as a woman. I was prepared for that,” she continued. “But I also don’t need anybody’s permission to be myself and to do the sport that I love.”

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