Atlanta, Ga. — Lia Thomas was awarded an NCAA championship in the 500-yard freestyle swim on Tuesday after dominating the female athletes in the league. The cheers and applause within the McAuley Aquatic Center were — as in the Tuesday morning prelims — noticeably louder for the second- and third-place finishers.
As Thomas got out of the pool and gave remarks, many onlookers were neither clapping nor smiling. One women’s-rights protester shouted “shame on the NCAA” and “he’s a man!”
“He’s a man!” yells a women’s rights protestor as Lis Thomas gives remarks after finishing first in the women’s 500 freestyle finals. #NCAASwimDive pic.twitter.com/6Ct1iX4FnK
— Madeleine Kearns (@madeleinekearns) March 18, 2022
Outside, a female Virginia Tech swimmer spoke with a reporter about her teammate who was brought to tears after being bumped out of the finals by Thomas.
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