After transgender swimmer Lia Thomas‘s controversial win in the NCAA finals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the state will recognize Emma Weyant, a native of Sarasota, Florida, “as the best women’s swimmer in the 500y freestyle.”
“By allowing men to compete in women’s sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud,” DeSantis tweeted Tuesday.
“In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Sarasota’s Emma Weyant as the best women’s swimmer in the 500y freestyle.”
By allowing men to compete in women’s sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud.
In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Sarasota’s Emma Weyant as the best women’s swimmer in the 500y freestyle. pic.twitter.com/tBmFxFE3q6
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 22, 2022
TODAY ACCUSED OF EDITING LIA THOMAS PHOTOS TO SOFTEN MALE FEATURES
In the declaration, the governor cited the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and its application to collegiate sports.
“To compete at that level is very, very difficult. And you don’t just roll out of bed and do it. That takes grit. That takes determination,” DeSantis said Monday.
“She had the fastest time of any woman in college athletics. Now the NCAA is basically taking efforts to destroy women’s athletics. They’re trying to undermine the integrity of the competition, crowning somebody else the women’s champion, and we think that’s wrong.”
JUST NOW: @GovRonDeSantis says he will sign a “proclamation” naming @UVA and @USASwimming Olympian @emmaweyant the “best female swimmer” of the women’s 500-yard freestyle.
DeSantis said the @NCAA is “perpetuating fraud” & “trying to undermine the integrity of the competition” pic.twitter.com/wt6I058ILp
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 22, 2022
Last week, Thomas made history by being the first transgender athlete to win a national Division I title. Thomas, a biological male who identifies as a female, beat all the biologically female competitors, finishing the 500-yard freestyle race with a time of 4 minutes, 33.24 seconds.
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Thomas told a reporter after the win, “It means the world to be here.”
