Well, this is awkward. The University of Pennsylvania just wiped Lia Thomas’ name from the women’s swimming record books and quietly honored her anyway. It’s the kind of move that makes you blink twice. The Ivy League school bowed to pressure from the Department of Education under Donald Trump’s administration, agreeing to ban trans women from women’s competitions and erase Thomas’ NCAA accomplishments. And yet, UPenn left a tiny asterisk at the bottom of the page that says otherwise.
Yes, Thomas is gone from the official record list. But a footnote now reads: “Competing under eligibility rules in effect at the time, Lia Thomas set program records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle during the 2021-22 season.”
On her profile, she still gets credit for being part of a record-setting 400 free relay team. So technically erased, but not really.
UPenn’s Record Book Footnote Raises Eyebrows
This all happened after the Trump administration cut off $175 million in federal funding to Penn, citing alleged Title IX violations. Penn caved. They agreed to adopt strict sex-based classifications and apologize to swimmers who were “impacted” by Thomas’ participation. That includes retroactively awarding titles and records to those who placed behind her in 2022.
The University of Pennsylvania will take actions regarding transgender athletes as a result of a Title IX agreement with the Department of Education. https://t.co/SPtSRPbvh4
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) July 2, 2025
Thomas, who started her career competing in men’s events before transitioning and meeting NCAA hormone therapy requirements, became a lightning rod in the national debate over transgender athletes. She won a national title in the 500-yard freestyle and tied for fifth in the 200 with Kentucky’s Riley Gaines, who has since become a leading voice against trans participation in women’s sports.
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In a statement, UPenn president J. Larry Jameson said the school wanted to avoid “significant and lasting implications” from the DOE investigation. Still, he claimed Penn “remains committed to fostering a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and open.”
Whether that holds up is up for debate.
Meanwhile, Thomas, who was recently ruled ineligible to challenge World Aquatics’ policy, remains shut out of Olympic competition. But despite the erasure, Penn’s faint acknowledgment keeps her name in the conversation, a footnote that speaks volumes.
No official comment yet from Thomas or her team.
Also Read: University Of Pennsylvania Unleashes Controversial Decision On Lia Thomas’ Swimming Records
