The University of Pennsylvania makes notes on Leah Thomas’ records after the resolution
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University of Pennsylvania On Tuesday, UPEN filed a Swift lawsuit to comply with a resolution contract reached with the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office after it was found that UPEN violated Title IX during the 2021-22 season due to the inclusion of transgender Swimalia Thomas.
As part of that resolution, Upenn agreed to restore individual titles and records to female athletes “which were diverted by male athletes allowed to compete in the female category.”
Leah Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer, stands on the podium after winning 500-yard freestyle from left to right with Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brook Fordade. (Justin Caster Line/Getty Images)
However, the university’s website was updated and Thomas’s name was removed from the trio records set by former swimmers during that season, but the website still acknowledged Thomas’ records, NCAA Eligibility rules at the time.
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“Note: Lia Thomas, competing under the valid eligibility rules at the time, recorded the program with 100, 200 and 500 freestyle during the 2021-22 season,” the commentary read.
Thomas became the first openly trans athlete to win the NCAA Division I title. During the competition, Thomas set several separate records, including a 500-yard freestyle race, resulting in a national title.
According to the Upenn website, Anna Kalandadze’s 4:37.21 record was set at 500 Free in 2024. Upenn freshman Kayla Fu recorded 2025 records as new records with 100 free restorations.
Transgender athlete Ria Thomas is looking after winning a 500-yard freestyle for women at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship at the McCauley Aquatic Center on Georgia Tech’s campus on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta. (Getty Images via Mike Comer/NCAA photos)
Additionally, former Upenn Swimmer Virginia Burns, who set a free record of 200 in 2017 at 1:45.51, restored the record as the top time.
Education Department We previously began investigating UPenn on February 6th. The Trump administration later frozen $175 million in school funding on March 20th, failing to comply with the executive order. Then, on April 28, the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office announced that it had concluded that Upenn had violated Title IX in handling the situation for Thomas.
As a result of this week’s resolution agreement, Upenn agreed to restore records and issue an apology to female athletes affected by these violations.
Pennsylvania’s Leah Thomas cheered on his teammates who competed in the 1650-yard freestyle final at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, February 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Mary Schwarm)
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“Pen’s policy during the 2021-2022 swimming season was in compliance with the NCAA eligibility rules at the time, but we acknowledge that some student-athletes were at a disadvantage due to these rules.”
“We are aware of this and apologise to anyone who has experienced competitive disadvantages and anxiety because of policies that were effective at the time.”
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