One of the most polarizing issues in sports over the last few years has been the debate over transgender athletes: What are their rights, and who is allowed to compete as a woman in women’s sports? With statewide bans on trans athletes competing in youth and high school sports, and with new policies being introduced by U.S. and international governing bodies, there’s a lot to talk about. And it can get very confusing very quickly. Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing conversation. (This story will be updated as new developments unfold.)
Thomas’s success this season put the Penn swimmer at the forefront of the conversation around transgender athletes participating in sports.