Charlottesville, VA – May 11, 2025 — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the collegiate sports world, a University of Virginia swimmer has broken her silence in a rare and emotional interview, blasting the NCAA’s controversial transgender participation policies after her teammate lost a championship spot to Lia Thomas — the now-infamous transgender swimmer at the center of ongoing national debate.

The swimmer, who asked to be referred to only as Emily, spoke exclusively with our outlet, calling the recent NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships a “devastating injustice” after her teammate was bumped from the finals by Thomas, who has continued to compete in women’s events despite fierce backlash.

“We’ve all worked our entire lives for this. Blood, sweat, tears, 5 a.m. practices — and it gets taken away because the rules are broken in the name of inclusion,” Emily said, holding back tears. “This isn’t fair. We’re not allowed to say it, but I will.”

Emily described a climate of fear and silence among NCAA athletes, claiming swimmers are being “pressured to comply or stay quiet” about their concerns regarding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. “You speak up, and you’re branded transphobic. You stay silent, and you watch your teammates suffer. It’s a no-win situation,” she added.

Lia Thomas, a former male swimmer who began competing in women’s categories after transitioning, made headlines in 2022 after becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. Since then, her participation has sparked widespread controversy, lawsuits, and policy reevaluations.

According to Emily, her teammate had ranked just above Thomas in the preliminary rounds but was pushed out of the finals after Thomas’s times were officially counted.

“She was sobbing in the locker room. I’ve never seen her like that. She earned that spot. She deserved that lane,” Emily said. “But the NCAA is too afraid to stand up for biological women.”

The NCAA has defended its inclusion policies, stating they are “continuously evaluating eligibility guidelines to ensure fairness and inclusion.” But for many athletes like Emily, that assurance rings hollow.

“This isn’t just about Lia. This is about the entire system that’s failing female athletes,” she said. “We’re being erased, and nobody wants to talk about it.”

When asked what she hoped would come from her decision to speak out, Emily replied:

“I hope people wake up. I hope this isn’t just brushed aside. We’re not being hateful — we’re asking for fairness.”

With lawsuits looming and the 2026 NCAA Championships around the corner, this latest development ensures the debate surrounding transgender athletes in college sports is far from over.