In an open letter blasting the NCAA for allowing transgender UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas to compete as a woman, Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy speaks out against what she sees as the organization’s disrespectful treatment of biologically female athletes.
Gyorgy is one of the few swimmers currently in college sports to put her name to criticism of the NCAA’s decision, and dozens of others have spoken out anonymously for fear of retribution from radical leftists.
“I would like to address this past week’s events and express my thoughts. First, I would like to remind everyone that I am a human being and that as a human being I experience feelings and emotions,” Gyorgy, a student athlete began.
“My name is Reka Gyorgy from Hungary. I am a 2016 Rio Olympian, represented Virginia Tech for the past 5 years, a 2-time ACC champion, 2 time All-American and 3-time honorable mention All-America,” she continued.
“With all due respect, I would like to address something that is a problem in our sport right now and hurting athletes, especially swimmers,” this competitor wrote. “Everyone has heard and known about transgender, Lia Thomas, and her case including all the issues and concerns that her situation brought into our sport.”
Gyorgy then added that she “fully stands” with Lia Thomas respecting her just like any other swimmer who has trained and sacrificed for swimming. However, she continued, “On the other hand, I would like to critique the NCAA rules that allow her to compete against us, who are biologically women.”
Further Gyorgy stated -“I’m writing this letter right now in hopes that the NCAA will open their eyes and change these rules in the future. It doesn’t promote our sport in a good way, and I think it is disrespectful against the biologically female swimmers who are competing in the NCAA.”
“I’m a 5th year senior, I have been top 16 and top 8 before and I know how much of a privilege it is to make finals at a meet this big,” Gyorgy explained. “This is my last college meet ever and I feel frustrated. It feels like that final spot was taken away from me because of the NCAA’s decision to let someone who is not a biological female compete.”
“I know you could say I had the opportunity to swim faster and make the top 16, but this situation makes it a bit different and I can’t help but be angry or sad,” she continued. “It hurts me, my ear and other women in the pool. One spot was taken away from the girl who got 9th in the 500 free and didn’t make it back to the A final preventing her from being an All-American. Every event that transgender athletes competed in was one spot taken away from biological females throughout the meet.”
She then stressed that the “NCAA knew what was coming this past week. They knew opinions and minds will be divided and chose to do nothing.”
“This week has been more about reporters, media and division in our sport than things like two women going under 21 seconds in the 50 freestyle, 3 women going under 50 seconds in the 100 butterfly and the first woman IN HISTORY to go under 48 seconds in the 100 backstroke’ she continued.
Instead of blaming Lia Thomas however, she laid blame squarely with league adding that she believes it is “the result of the NCAA and their lack of interest in protecting their athletes.”
Lastly Gyorgy concluded -“I ask that the NCAA takes time to think about all the other biological women in swimming, try to think how they would feel if they would be in our shoes,” she concluded. “Make the right changes for our sport and for a better future in swimming.”
This is a dangerous precedent that must be stopped in order to protect the rights of all women in sports.