William Thomas was a competitive swimmer in college, at the University of Pennsylvania. Good, but he never was quite good enough to win many competitions.
Then he switched to competing on the women’s team, and not only won, but set records.
Which now are being erased, given the school’s promise of apologies to female swimmers forced unfairly to compete against a man, a promise that was accompanied by a commitment to remove Thomas’ name from the victories, and elevate all of those who finished in second place.
It’s a dramatic turn in the long-running battle over transgender athletes, typified by “Lia” Thomas and his competition against women.
BREAKING:
UPenn will formally apologize for allowing Lia Thomas to compete as a woman.
The tide is turning! pic.twitter.com/Dn9M2WkhKQ
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) July 1, 2025
BREAKING: @Penn to APOLOGIZE for allowing male swimmer Lia Thomas to invade the women’s team.
The University will also be adopting definitions for male and female consistent with biological sex, strip all records/titles from Thomas and return them to female swimmers, and issue… pic.twitter.com/YhKfMJAsuA
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 1, 2025
@usedgov’s @EDSecMcMahon: UPenn will be sending personal apologies to every female athlete who was forced to compete against a male. pic.twitter.com/B7TJzuGPUX
— Independent Women’s Forum (@IWF) July 1, 2025
A report at the Daily Mail noted the school had been under fire from the Department of Education, and resolved the dispute “by agreeing to resolve alleged Title IX violations over transgender former Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas.”
The DOE announced Tuesday that Penn is adopting strict definitions for male and female competitors under White House guidelines and will erase Thomas from the school’s record books. “Furthermore, swimmers impacted by Thomas’ inclusion in women’s NCAA competitions will receive a personal apology from Penn and be retroactively awarded records and titles,” the report confirmed.
The Trump administration earlier had suspended $175 million in federal funding to the school, giving university officials an incentive to reach a resolution.
“Penn remains committed to fostering a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and open to all students, faculty, and staff,” school chief J. Larry Jameson said.
Thomas had captured national victories, as a woman, in the 400 freestyle while tying for fifth in the 200 freestyle at the 2022 NCAA finals.
While Joe Biden actively promoted transgenderism for all, including children and the body-mutilating surgeries for them, when President Donald Trump took office he issued an order that the U.S. government recognizes two genders, male and female.
The NCAA soon after Trump’s order changed its practices to conform to Trump’s additional order banning males from competitions for girls and women.
Riley Gaines, whose competition with Thomas reached headlines, has become a leader in the movement to protect women and women’s sports. She said, “From day one, President Trump and [Education] Secretary [Linda] McMahon made it clear that protecting women and girls is a top priority—and today’s agreement with UPenn is proof of that commitment in action.
“This Administration isn’t just talking about women’s equality, but instead actively defending it. I hope this sends a clear message to educational institutions: you can no longer disregard women’s civil rights. And to every female athlete, know this: your dignity, safety, and fairness matter, and our nation’s leaders will not stop fighting for them.”
The agreement has the school restoring to female athletes all of the records, and achievements “misappropriated by male athletes.”
It also promised to comply with Title IX and not allow men in events for women, with adopt definitions for men and woman based on biology and more.
NEW: Trans UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas will be stripped of his titles thanks to the Trump administration.
Huge win.
President Trump is also forcing UPenn to issue apologies to the real women who lost to Thomas.
The college will be required to restore all their Division I… pic.twitter.com/Udmwi3EeuL
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 1, 2025
His teammates on the women’s team at Penn complained about being forced to undress in front of a male repeatedly in the locker rooms preparing for swim meets.
Multiple states already have adopted legislation that bans males from sports for women and girls.