Who Took the Title From Emma Weyant?

Emma Weyant, a professional American collegiate swimmer, found herself at the centre of controversy in March 2022 when Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, won the NCAA Division I 500-yard freestyle championship. Many saw this as Weyant being unfairly denied a national title, despite finishing second with a personal best time of 4:34.99.

Born on December 24, 2001, in Sarasota, Florida, Weyant has established herself as a formidable competitor in swimming, particularly in individual medley and freestyle events. Her dabbling in athletics began with the Sarasota Sharks swim team while attending Riverview High School. Weyant's talent became evident early on, as she won gold in the 400m individual medley at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Weyant's breakthrough on the international stage came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), where she won a silver medal in the 400m individual medley. She won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest. Her success extended to short course competitions as well, with a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi.

In her collegiate career, Weyant competed for the University of Virginia before transferring to the University of Florida. She has consistently performed at a high level in NCAA championships, winning multiple medals and top finishes in various events. Most recently, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Weyant added another medal to her collection, winning bronze in the 400m individual medley.

The Race Where Emma Lost the Title to Lia Thomas

On March 17, 2022, Lia Thomas finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:33.24, while Emma Weyant touched the wall second at 4:34.99. The race results were as follows:

Thomas' win made her the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I swimming championship.

Reactions and Controversy On Emma Weyant’s Position and Lia Thomas Win

• Crowd reaction: There were reports of some boos from the audience when Thomas was announced as the winner (Newsweek).

• Competitor behaviour: Weyant, Sullivan, and Thomas shook hands in the water after the race (Newsweek).

• Media coverage: Some conservative media outlets and commentators declared Weyant the "real winner" of the race (OutKick, Washington Times).

• Social media: The hashtag #EmmaWeyant trended on social media, with many users expressing support for her as the "rightful winner" (Washington Times).

Emma Weyant's Swimming Career

Collegiate Career

• 2021-2022 season: Competed for the University of Virginia

• 2022 NCAA Championships: Silver (500y freestyle), 4th (400y IM), Silver (800y freestyle relay)

• 2022-2023 season: Transferred to the University of Florida

• 2023 NCAA Championships: Bronze (400y IM), 6th (500y freestyle), 13th (1650y freestyle)

Olympic Achievements

World Championship Achievements (Long Course)

World Championship Achievements (Short Course)

NCAA Championship Achievements (University of Virginia)

NCAA Championship Achievements (University of Florida)

Junior Pan Pacific Championships