Lia Thomas Networth January, 2024, Height, Weight, Age, Bio
Quick Facts
- Name: Lia Thomas
- Gender: Other
- Profession: Swimmer
- Birth Nation: USA
- Nationality: American
- Parents: Austin, Texas
- Ethnicity: American-White
- Race: White
- Brothers: 1
- High School: Westlake High School
- University: University of Pennsylvania
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Net Worth: $200K
- Source of Wealth: Swimming Career
- Body Measurement: 32-24-32 in.
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 65 Kg
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Body Type: Athletic
- Links: Wikipedia
Lia Thomas, an American transgender swimmer, has gained recognition in the sport. Her noteworthy achievement includes winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle competition in a time of 4:33.24 on March 31, 2022.
This victory marked her as the first openly transgender athlete to secure an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport. Before transitioning in 2019, Lia spent three years competing on the UPenn men’s swim team under the name Will.
She actively engaged in the public discourse surrounding transgender women in sports in both 2021 and 2022. Lia Thomas has expressed her intention to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics trials and has applied to law school, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
In a recent decision, FINA altered the regulations governing transgender athletes.
The new policy excludes transgender women who were assigned male at birth and underwent gender transition after the age of 12 from participating in the women’s division of all FINA-hosted international swimming championships.
This development, sparked by the contentious nature of transgender athlete issues, means that Lia Thomas, the American swimmer, will no longer be eligible to compete in the women’s category following the policy change, which received 71.4% of the vote.
How much is Lia Thomas’s estimated net worth?
As of 2022, the accomplished swimmer Lia Thomas is believed to possess a net worth of $200K. Her primary income is derived from her successful swimming career. Lia leads a lavish lifestyle, and her financial prosperity places her among the most affluent and influential swimmers in the country.
Early Years and Bio
Born in 1998, Lia Thomas hails from Austin, Texas, and is an American by nationality. Identifying as of American descent, she belongs to the White ethnic group and is classified as White.
In the year 2022, Lia celebrated her 22nd birthday. While details about her parents remain undisclosed to the media, it is known that she has an older brother.
Lia commenced her swimming journey at the age of 5 and represented Westlake High School in the state high school swimming championships during her sixth-grade year. She enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 2017, where she completed her collegiate swimming career.
What is the Professional Career of Lia Thomas?
In 2017, Thomas joined the men’s swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania and has been an active participant ever since.
During this time, Thomas achieved notable accomplishments, ranking sixth nationwide among males in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 8 minutes, 57.55 seconds. Additionally, Thomas secured positions within the top 100 in the country for the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles.
In 2019, as a sophomore, Thomas excelled at the Ivy League finals, securing second place in the men’s 500, 1,000, and 1,650-yard freestyle events. Notably, Thomas set the fastest university men’s team times in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles during the 2018–19 season.
Embarking on hormone replacement therapy in May 2019, Thomas publicly came out as a trans woman. During the 2018–19 season, Thomas competed for the men’s squad, achieving rankings of 554th in the 200 freestyle, 65th in the 500 freestyle, and 32nd in the 1650 freestyle. In a competition in January 2022, Thomas secured sixth place in the 100-meter freestyle event.
The groundbreaking moment came in March 2022 when Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle in 4:33.24, making history as the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national title in any sport. Notably, Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant finished second with a time 1.75 seconds slower.
Thomas also performed commendably in the 200 freestyle preliminary round, securing a second-place finish, and ultimately finished sixth in the 200-freestyle final with a timing of 1:43.50.
More on Career
She secured the ninth position in the preliminary round of the 100 freestyle. However, in the 100 freestyle finals, Thomas concluded in the eighth position out of eight swimmers, completing the race in 48.
18 seconds. The NCAA championship in March 2022 marked her final college swimming competition. Despite her critics, she remains determined to pursue her swimming ambitions, aiming for the 2024 Summer Olympics trials.
Additionally, she has applied to law school, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
A report by The Washington Post on January 10, 2022, highlighted Thomas breaking school records and achieving the fastest times among female collegiate swimmers in two events during the season.
Despite varying opinions on her presence on the pool deck, she was expected to be a favorite at the NCAA championships in March.
In response to criticism during a May 2022 interview with Good Morning America, Thomas stated, “I intend to keep swimming,” expressing her long-standing ambition to participate in the Olympic trials.
However, in June 2022, the International Swimming Federation (FINA), governing international aquatic sports competitions, voted to prohibit all transgender athletes from participating in professional women’s swimming.
The exception was made for those who could prove to FINA’s satisfaction that they did not experience any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12. Consequently, Thomas is no longer permitted to compete in this sport.
Is Lia Thomas dating anyone?
Lia Thomas remains unmarried and has not entered into any committed relationship at the moment. She is currently single and has not been involved in any romantic relationships thus far.
Additionally, she has never had a girlfriend, considering her past as a man. It seems she is currently focused on her professional endeavors, and she identifies with a transgender sexuality.
Lia Thomas Surgery
Regarding her sexuality, Lia Thomas is transgender, having undergone gender reassignment surgery to transition from being born a man to becoming a female.
Previously competing as Will Thomas during three years as a boy, she expressed in an interview that being trans hasn’t limited her ability to engage in her sport, and she finds it incredibly fulfilling.
As a representative of the LGBTQ community on the playing field, Lia considers it a privilege. She began her transition with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in May 2019, openly coming out as a trans woman to her coaches, friends, and both the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s and men’s swim teams during her junior year.
The process of testosterone suppression and hormone replacement medication has resulted in a decrease in strength and muscle mass.
Body Stats: What is Lia Thomas’ height?
Lia Thomas possesses a charming and athletic appearance, standing tall at 6 feet 1 inch. With a total body weight of 65 KG, she maintains an active and healthy lifestyle.
Her beautiful blonde hair complements her stunning dark brown eyes. Her physical measurements are 32-24-32 inches, and she takes diligent care of her body through regular workouts.
Trivia
According to an archived page on the swimming data website Swimcloud, Thomas held the 89th rank among male college swimmers for that particular season.
By February 2022, CNN characterized Thomas as “the face of the debate on transgender women in sports,” and in March 2022, Sports Illustrated labeled her as “the most controversial athlete in America.”
As a competitive swimmer, Thomas identifies as transgender. She initiated her transition through hormone replacement therapy in May 2019 and came out as a trans woman during her junior year, sharing her identity with coaches, friends, and both the women’s and men’s swim teams at the University of Pennsylvania.