Paula Scanlan Tells Daily Wire Penn Forced Silence on Lia Thomas Situation
A University of Pennsylvania teammate of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has spoken out about what happened behind the scenes during Thomas’ season on the women’s team.
Penn swimmer Paula Scanlan told the Daily Wire that Penn tried to keep the team quiet about the situation, saying the university staff said they “would regret” speaking to the media.
The result was a full season of silence. Lia Thomas did not speak to the media except for a very short conversation with Sports Illustrated, despite numerous interview requests. Thomas even skipped the mandatory press conference for NCAA champions after winning the 500 freestyle in 2022.
Scanlan said she has come forward as she said “fighting for women and girls across the country.” Legislation has been introduced about transgender athletes at several levels of government as the issue continues to be debated.
She claimed the women’s team was not given the chance to ask questions about Thomas moving from the men’s team to the women’s team after undergoing hormone therapy.
“We had a team meeting led by the leader of the men’s team in 2019 about how Will Thomas would be joining the women’s team,” she told the Daily Wire. “I felt shocked and a little uncomfortable, but everyone around me looked excited for someone in the men’s team to be, ‘living their true self.’ I can’t speak for everyone. But I think it was a lot of shock, a lot of uncomfortable smiling. But that’s just my interpretation. They also told us Lia swimming with us is non-negotiable and provided us with counselling services to ‘help us be OK’ with it.”
Thomas swam for Penn and won the NCAA championship in the 500 free and has not competed since.
Read the full Daily Wire report here.
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As a swimmer in the Ivy League, I can attest that multiple teams strictly told their swimmers not to speak to the press. Women in the Ivy League were silenced. We were told as a team we would support Lia and that was that. There was no room for discussion. We were not entitled to have opinions.
As another swimmer in the ivy league, you could have still talked. You just would have faced repercussions from the team. Regardless, talking would lead to repercussions whether it be from your coaches or the media. Don’t sit on your high horse and act like coaches and mentors stuck a piece of tape in your mouth. You could talk and people did.
I give Paula so much credit for her strength to come forward .
So sad how many do not have courage,!
Men should stay in there own place leave women rooms alone someone is going to get hurt
As if “Hormone therapy” can change a man into a woman. Now that would be magical.
Young lady, the NCAA, FINA and your school failed you. I have 4 daughters. At your young age, you have stood up for the rights of my daughters more than any of these professed feminists or progressives. It took great courage for you to stand up to this nonsense and I as the father of 4 girls, am grateful.