Previously competing as a man at the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s swim team, transgender athlete Lia Thomas retired from swimming after slaying the competition as a woman.
\nThomas made the surprising and emotional announcement in a statement that highlights the \u201cisolation\u201d and \u201cdiscrimination\u201d she\u2019s experienced, while other competitors say her participation in women\u2019s events is \u201cgrossly unfair\u201d that sport \u201callows biological men to compete against women.\u201d
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\nOnline users are showing no sympathy for Thomas, saying that the women are now being oppressed by \u201cmales walking amongst us in dresses and makeup.\u201d\u201cNobody wants me on their team,\u201d said swimmer Lia Thomas, who\u2019s has been at the center of explosive debates surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in women\u2019s sports.
\nAs a transgender athlete, Thomas has been the topic of extensive discussions on equity, gender, and the integrity of competition in women\u2019s sports.
\nIn a statement, Thomas reveals that her decision to retire follows \u201cthe challenges\u201d that have been \u201cmore emotional than physical, stemming from the ongoing struggle to find acceptance and fairness in a sport I hold dear. No athlete should experience isolation or discrimination based on their identity rather than being celebrated for their accomplishments.\u201dCritics and other athletes her inclusion is unfair.<\/p>\n