UPenn Updates Trans Swimmer Records, Apologizes to Female Athletes

The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to update swimming records and apologize to female athletes who were disadvantaged by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' participation on the women's team, resolving a federal civil rights case with the U.S. Education Department. Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title in 2022, had her titles, records, and recognitions vacated by Penn amid findings that the university violated the rights of female athletes under Title IX. Penn will restore individual records and titles to female swimmers who lost to Thomas, issue personalized apology letters, and commit to barring males from competing in female athletic programs by adopting biology-based definitions of sex. This resolution follows an investigation initiated under President Donald Trump's administration, which has taken a firm stance against transgender athletes competing in women's sports nationwide. Martina Navratilova, a long-time critic of transgender participation in women's sports, expressed support for Penn's decision and credited President Trump for his executive order restricting transgender athletes. Penn's president acknowledged that while past policies complied with NCAA rules, they disadvantaged some athletes and caused anxiety, prompting the university to issue apologies and policy changes.