Cynthia Millen: Swimming official of 30 years resigns claiming Lia Thomas defeats fair play
A USA Swimming official has quit her job over University of Pennsylvania allowing transgender female swimmers to compete alongside biologically female swimmers. Cynthia Millen, who has officiated USA Swimming events for 30 years, says that allowing transgender females to compete against biologically female swimmers defeats the whole point of fair play in the game.
The controversy started after Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, began to compete as a female player. Swimmers and their parents at the University of Pennsylvania have expressed discontentment over Thomas being allowed to compete as a female swimmer. The swimming official agreed that it was indeed unfair, stating 'boys are built differently than girls'.
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"I don't mean to be critical of Lia - whatever's going on, Lia's a child of God, a precious person - but bodies swim against bodies," Millen told The Washington Times. "That's a male body against females. And that male body can never change. That male body will always be a male body," she added.
She submitted her resignation on December 17 after completing over three decades at the job.
"I told my fellow officials that I can no longer participate in a sport which allows biological men to compete against women. Everything fair about swimming is being destroyed," Millen wrote in a letter to USA Swimming in which she also mentioned her decision to resign from her position.
Miller also explained that physiological differences between males and females come to play in the swimming pool and can be advantageous and disadvantageous in different ways. "Boys are built differently than girls. I mean, we know that: Boys have the T-shape, the broad shoulders, the narrow hips, Girls have the hips, they’ve got more drag, they’ve got boobs, they’ve got body fat. Yes, a Katie Ledecky can beat a lot of guys, but in the end, the [best] guys are going to beat Katie Ledecky."
Miller also disclosed that other officials agree with her but are not willing to speak about it due to fear of retaliaton. "I’ve talked to some other officials, and while they say yeah, this is ridiculous, I think a lot of people feel like they can’t do anything about it, but you’ve got to make a stand sometimes. If enough people walk off the deck, or if enough referees say no, it will change. It’s wrong," Millen said.
University of Pennsylvania's governing body has not yet taken any action over the matter. Students have said they want the governing body to come to a decision on whether Thomas should be permitted to play in the female team.
