Some have responded to my last post by saying “take a chill pill dude” (not kidding; one commentator actually resorted to that inanity). They argue that I should settle down because Lia Thomas’ posing as a woman to crush real women in athletic competitions does not harm anyone. Nonsense. He is causing harm. Former collegiate swimmer Jenna Stocker writes this about her swimming career:
Whether on a court, rink, or in my case, a pool, the ultimate goal is to win. The drive to be the best in my sport and my events — distance freestyle — is why I rode my bike through the snow for predawn practices at the University of Minnesota. It is why I swam countless laps, pushing myself through the silence of my own thoughts staring at a bottom of a pool. It is why I spent my college years forgoing other activities, parties, even internships in pursuit of my dreams.
Jenna Stocker
Now imagine that after all of that a man steps into the pool and beats her. Are you really going to say she has not been harmed?