Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who won the women’s national championship in 2022, sympathizes with San Jose State’s Blaire Fleming, who is at the center of the latest controversy in sports.
Fleming’s involvement with the San Jose State women’s volleyball team sparked criticism and accusations of being a transgender player in the sport.
Thomas responded to the controversy in an interview with ESPN.
“It can be very offensive and dehumanizing,” Thomas told the outlet. “And in a way, I think, very few people have ever experienced it. To have my personal identity and my personality become a talking point for a culture war just takes all of my humanity. It would be very difficult to keep trying to put up with that.”
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Blair Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans waits to serve during the first set against the Air Force Falcons on Falcon Court in the East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Thomas spoke to ESPN after a judge ruled in favor of Fleming and San Jose State in a lawsuit that called for the volleyball player to be sidelined before the Mountain West Conference tournament.
Fleming led the team in kills during the regular season with 297 and has a team-leading 3.86 kills per set.
Fleming raised eyebrows at points during the season with some brutal performances that fooled opponents. It has led to criticism of how much power Fleming puts into the kills and whether the player has more power as a transgender player.
Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas prepares for the 200 free at the NCAA swimming and diving championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta March 18, 2022. (Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)
Others downplay that concern.
JUDGE’S DECISION TO ALLOW SJSU TRANS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER TO COMPETE IN TOURNAMENT FINDS GAME
Judge Kato Crews wrote the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay was “absurd” and “would risk confusion and stall months of planning and would prejudice, at the very least, (San Jose County) and other parties involved in the contest.”
Crews’ decision allowed Fleming to play in the contest, and a loss remains a loss. Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada were among the Mountain West schools to cancel games against San Jose State because of Fleming’s presence on the team. Those games resulted in a shutout and a loss and helped the Spartans earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
“San José State University will continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination of all kinds. All San José State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports under the NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules,” said the school’s statement. on Fox News Digital.
Blair Fleming plays with the Air Force Falcons on the Falcon Court in the East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
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“We are pleased that the court rejected the eleventh hour effort to change those rules. Our team is looking forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week.”
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