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Leah Thomas is the most
controversial athlete

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in America today, the
University of Pennsylvania

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swimmer has set pool school and
Ivy League records this season

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and route to becoming the
nation's most dominant female

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collegiate swimmer.

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She also is a trans woman who
has faced bigotry and criticism

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from those who don't
think she should

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be allowed to swim with or
against female competition.

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The issue reached its
peak the swim season

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as Thomas put herself on
track to dominate the NCAA

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championships this month
in Atlanta, Georgia.

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In addition to being a favorite
in the 200 yard and 500 yard

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freestyle events, she also could
break longstanding NCAA records

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held by Olympic stars Katey
Ledecky and Missy Franklin.

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It's hardly been an
easy road for Thomas,

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who began hormone replacement
therapy in May 2019

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after years of gender dysphoria.

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The shy, quiet swimmer
from Austin, Texas,

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began feeling relief
almost immediately

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after beginning her treatments.

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She took the 2020
2021 academic year off

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to ensure she would
be able to swim

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as a member of the Penn women's
team and as her authentic self.

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This swim season, Thomas
has faced criticisms

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even from within her own team.

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They say her previous
puberty gives her

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an advantage over
her competition,

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that she is denigrating
women's sports,

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that she has treated her
competition as a joke.

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But she insists she isn't
thinking about records.

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She says she simply wants
to race against women.

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She wants to swim
as Leah Thomas.

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