Three former Penn swimmers have filed a lawsuit aiming to have transgender athlete Lia Thomas’ records removed. The lawsuit was filed just one day before Donald Trump signed an executive order banning trans women from competing in female sports.
The plaintiffs, Ellen Holmquist, Margot Kaczorowski, and Grace Estabrook, have named the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, the Ivy League Council of Presidents, and the NCAA in the suit. Thomas herself was not listed as a defendant. The swimmers claim they were “repeatedly emotionally traumatized” during the 2021–22 season, citing concerns over fairness and privacy.
Estabrook criticized the institutions that allowed Thomas to compete, stating, “Women’s sports and the leaders who oversee them should not prioritize men’s feelings over fairness and integrity.” The lawsuit also includes a class-action claim on behalf of all 206 female athletes who competed at the 2022 Ivy League Swimming and Diving Championships.
Meanwhile, Trump’s new executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” aims to pressure the International Olympic Committee to revise its policies before the 2028 Summer Games. It also directs federal agencies to enforce single-sex sports and locker rooms in schools.
Speaking at the signing, Trump declared, “From now on, women’s sports will be only for women.” His administration argues the move is necessary for fairness, while critics view it as discriminatory. The lawsuit and executive order mark a new escalation in the ongoing debate over transgender participation in sports.
