I just recently graduated from the University of Kentucky where I was on the swim team all four years. I was able to finish my career as a five-time SEC champion, and SEC record holder in the 200-yard butterfly, which explains my massive shoulders, a 12-time All-American, and a two-time Olympic trial qualifier.
But all of that to say that being successful at such an elite level is far from easy and is a lifelong commitment. It’s impossible to put into words the innumerable hours of hard work and the amount of sacrifices that go into competing at the highest level.
This past year, I was forced to compete against the swimmer from University of Pennsylvania Lia Thomas. At our NCAA Championships, which is the pinnacle meet for all female collegiate athletes, we actually raced the 200-yard freestyle and went the exact same time down to the hundredth, which is pretty rare to do in swimming.
Upon tying, the NCAA official looked at me and said, “Great race. You know, we don’t account for ties. So, we’re going to give Lia the trophy. Yours will come in the mail.” And so, I question him, and I say, “Okay, I understand there’s only one trophy. But can I ask you why you’re adamant on giving this trophy to Lia?” And he looks at me and says, “Oh, well, we’re just doing this in chronological order.” So, at this point I realize what’s happening. My response was “Okay, well, can you inform me what you’re being chronological about?”
He said, “For photo purposes, Thomas has to hold the trophy.” It was at this point that I was done waiting for someone else to speak out, because up until this point truly I thought surely a coach, surely someone within the NCAA, someone with political power would stand up for us as young female athletes and say something, but that’s not what we were seeing. So, I took it upon myself.
Women are often told to comply and basically stay silent, so we don’t step on any toes or ruffle any feathers. Universities are intimidating, they’re threatening, they’re emotionally blackmailing young girls into being too afraid to use their powerful voices. Can you believe that, as a society, we’ve gotten to the point where we’re threatening girls from speaking out who feel uncomfortable seeing a man in their locker room?
It’s insane.
Join Independent Women’s Forum and me in fighting to make sure girls and women in sports are given equal and fair opportunities to compete while also ensuring that they will never have to worry about their privacy, dignity, or safety.
