Who Is Lia Thomas? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Lia Thomas is 26 years old. She was born in Austin, Texas, and gained national attention as a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania. Lia made headlines for being the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport, highlighting her journey and the challenges faced by transgender athletes. For more in-depth information, visit her Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Swimmers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 1, 1999 |
| Age | 26 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country |
Popularity
Lia Thomas's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Lia stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm). Her weight is approximately 165 pounds (75 kg), which complements her athletic build. Throughout her swimming career, she has maintained a rigorous fitness regime that contributes to her competitive edge in the pool.
Thomas lost muscle mass and strength through testosterone suppression and hormone replacement therapy. Her time for the 500 freestyle is over 15 seconds slower than her personal bests before medically transitioning. Thomas's event progression peaked in 2019 for distance swimming, with a drop in times during the 2021–2022 season.
Her event progression for sprint swimming reflected a dip at the start of 2021–2022 season before returning to near-lifetime bests in the 100 free and a lifetime personal best in the 50 free in 2021.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Lia Thomas's personal life has attracted considerable public interest. While Lia tends to keep her romantic life private, reports suggest that she is currently dating a fellow swimmer, though details about her boyfriend remain undisclosed. Lia has spoken about the importance of family support in her journey, particularly from her parents, who have been strong advocates for her.
In 2021, conservative media, including Fox News, began widely covering Thomas. In early December, anonymous parents of University of Pennsylvania swim team members wrote to the NCAA, seeking for Thomas to be declared ineligible to compete.
In December 2021, USA Swimming official Cynthia Millen resigned after 30 years in protest against Thomas's eligibility to compete and then she appeared to express her views on the Fox News show The Ingraham Angle.
In a January 10, 2022, article, The Washington Post wrote, "Thomas has shattered school records and has posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two events this season. She'll probably be a favorite at the NCAA championships in March, even as people inside and outside the sport debate her place on the pool deck."
Net Worth and Salary
Lia Thomas's net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of 2025. This figure comes from her achievements in swimming, endorsement deals, and her participation in various competitions. Her earnings may vary depending on her continued involvement in professional sports and potential business ventures.
Career, Business and Investments
Lia Thomas's swimming career continues to be marked by groundbreaking performances and advocacy for trans rights in athletics. Since making history at the NCAA championships, she has been involved in various speaking engagements and charitable activities to promote awareness and acceptance of transgender athletes. Lia is also exploring potential business opportunities linked to her brand, including partnerships and merchandising in the sports industry.
Lia Catherine Thomas (born May 1999) is an American swimmer. She was the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, having won the women's 500-yard freestyle event in 2022, before being barred from competing in women's events by World Aquatics. Thomas's career has been a part of the public debate about transgender women in women's sports.
Social Network
Lia Thomas is active on various social media platforms, where she engages with her fans and advocates for issues surrounding transgender athletes. Her Instagram account boasts over 300,000 followers, and she regularly shares insights into her training, competitions, and personal life. Lia also uses her platform to share educational content on trans rights and the importance of inclusion in sports.
Brooke Forde, an Olympic silver medalist, said of Thomas that "I believe that treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be, which is why I will not have a problem racing against Lia at NCAAs this year".
Another swimmer, Olympic silver medalist Erica Sullivan, spoke in support of Thomas in an opinion piece for Newsweek: "like anyone else in this sport, Lia has trained diligently to get to where she is and has followed all of the rules and guidelines put before her ... she doesn't win every time.
And when she does, she deserves, like anyone else in this sport, to be celebrated for her hard-won success, not labeled a cheater simply because of her identity." 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps said that "I believe that we all should feel comfortable with who we are in our own skin, but I think sports should all be played on an even p
laying field" and "I don't know what that looks like in the future".
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar opposed Thomas's participation, arguing that she had not "demonstrated that [she] lost her sex-linked, male-puberty advantage prior to competition in the women's category".
Education
Lia attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a degree in [insert major here if known]. Her experience as a competitive swimmer at the collegiate level has played a significant role in shaping her identity and advocacy work. During her time at university, she was also involved in discussions and programs aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ athletes.
In summary, Lia Thomas has emerged as a pioneering figure in the athletic world, representing and advocating for the rights of transgender athletes. With her impressive career, personal achievements, and ongoing commitment to social justice, she continues to inspire many both in and outside of the sports community.
She grew up in Austin, Texas, and has an older brother. Thomas began swimming at the age of five, and was sixth in the state high school swimming championships for boys' events, competing for Westlake High School. In 2017, she started attending the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2022 with plans to attend law school.
