How Emma Weyant, Other Swimmers Reacted to Lia Thomas Win
s the top seed amid a record breaking season, became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning with a time of 4:33.24.Her appearance at the championship in Atlanta was met with protests from conservative groups and fellow athletes at the Georgia Tech complex and arrived following divisive discussions about whether she or other transgender athletes should be able to take part in competitive sports.There were even some boos from the crowd after Thomas was proclaimed the winner on the podium and after she gave an interview to ESPN following her victory."I try to ignore it as much as I can," Thomas said when asked about the distractions regarding her appearance at the championships. "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."Similar hostility did not appear to have been shown from other competitors.In the immediate aftermath of the race, both second placed Emma Weyant, who won silver in the 400-meter Individual Medley at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and third placed Erica Sullivan, a silver medalist in the 1,500-meter freestyle event in Tokyo, shook hands with Thomas in the water.While standing on the podium, all the competitors in the 500-yard freestyle race applauded Thomas when she was announced the winner, except for fifth placed Evie Pfiefer, who appeared to not clap, according to a video from the arena.Elsewhere, a Getty photo shows Weyant, Sullivan and fourth place finisher Brooke Forde posing while standing away from Thomas.
It is unclear whether this was an intended statement from the other swimmers rather than a standard picture where the winner is shot separately.Following the race, a number of right-wing figures.
