Rep. Boebert Introduces Resolution Honoring the Fastest Female Swimmer in the NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle

Today, Rep. Lauren Boebert led 21 Members of Congress in introducing a House resolution honoring Emma Weyant as the rightful winner of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle.

Rep. Lauren Boebert stated, “Emma Weyant was the fastest woman competing in the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle, but her first-place win was stolen by a mediocre male athlete who couldn’t cut it in men’s swimming. Emma is a world-class student-athlete whose strong performances in the Summer Olympics and 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship speak for themselves. These victories, coupled with her leadership of other women on her team and her dedication to excellence are worthy of Congressional recognition. I will keep working to save women’s sports from woke ideology threatening to strip women of a level playing field.”

Rep. Vicky Hartzler said, “Emma Weyant worked her whole life to compete in the NCAA women's swimming championships — only to be beaten by a biological male. This is a travesty for women’s sports and sets a horrific precedent for our future generations of female athletes. As a high school athlete and former track coach, I am proud to be a champion for women’s sports and stand up against men stealing their medals and erasing their years of hard work. Emma beat every woman in her race and deserves to be recognized as the rightful winner of the NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle.”

Rep. Mary Miller said, “No girl should be robbed of athletic opportunities by being forced to compete with biological males in school sports. These overreaching policies don’t empower women, they threaten our daughters’ safety, education, and opportunities.”

Rep. Diana Harshbarger stated, “I am deeply disappointed that far-left ideology has gone so far as to help a man steal a deserved victory from a woman. What a regressive and dangerous lesson to teach our children. The only possible winner of the NCAA Division I Women’s 500-yard Freestyle competition is the woman who finished first, Emma Weyant. I am proud to join many of my colleagues to extend a sincere congratulations to such an important female role model.”

Rep. Chip Roy stated, “Emma won. Everyone gets that. So Congress should say it.”

Rep. Bob Good said, “If Emma Weyant had taken testosterone, she would have been disqualified for cheating and disgraced by the media. Instead, the media celebrates a biological man winning a women’s sporting event and praises it as ‘societal progress’. Let’s follow the science of the God-created two genders, and protect women’s rights, including fair competition. The American people are rejecting these harmful woke policies that are embraced by today’s Democrat Party.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde stated, “Emma Weyant was unfairly robbed of her true NCAA title – all because a biological male, Will ‘Lia’ Thomas, placed first in a women’s only race. The Left’s war on women is dangerous, illogical, and flat-out evil. We cannot allow woke nonsense to shatter dreams and undermine legitimate women’s accomplishments, which is why I’m proud to join Congresswoman Boebert in correcting this injustice. Congratulations, Emma, on rightfully winning the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle!”

Rep. Jeff Duncan said, “The University of Virginia’s Emma Weyant, a world-class student-athlete and Olympic medalist, is the true winner of the women’s NCAA 500-yard freestyle. Emma’s victory was unfortunately overshadowed by a biological male who took home first place due to an arbitrary, anti-science definition of gender pushed by the radical Left. To deny Emma’s win is to ignore the fact that women have two X chromosomes and certain biological distinctions that disqualify biological males like Lia (William) Thomas from being a contender in a women’s swim meet. Only biological females belong in women’s sports, and it is unethical and unfair for a biological male to rob the prize from the legitimate victor of a women’s race.”

Rep. Louie Gohmert stated, “Emma Weyant’s hard work must be recognized by the NCAA. She and other female athletes, like RéKa György who was prevented from racing, deserve a formal apology. Weyant was blocked from receiving the fruits of her efforts, which should have been 1st place in the 500-yard freestyle race. As a swimmer at her level, she has likely swum thousands of laps, endured grueling practices, and made many personal sacrifices to be the best she can be, only to lose due to a biological man who currently identifies as a woman. The NCAA should correct this injustice and make sure their rules are fair to women like Emma, who are paving the way for the future of female swimmers. They should believe women when they say that they want a level playing field to compete on, rather than placing Lia’s desire for inclusion over their desire for fairness in the sport they have devoted their lives and efforts to.”

Rep. Matt Rosendale said, “The Left’s refusal to address male participation in female sports is lunacy. Female athletes are robbed of life-changing opportunities when their hard work and dedication are derailed by men 'identifying' as women. It is time our society stops ignoring basic biology and returns to empowering women athletes, rightfully acknowledging their prowess and accomplishments.”

Background:

Emma Weyant honorably represented the United States in the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, winning the Silver Medal in the women’s 400-meter individual medley. Emma is a role model for girls across the country, described by her coach as “driven, goal-oriented and very thorough, hard-working, processed, focused and resilient.” Emma was named a four-time high school All-American, a four-time Scholar-Athlete, and a Scholastic All-American.

Emma’s incredible record of success continued at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle Final, where she logged the fasted time among all the women competing.

Unfortunately, William Thomas, a biological man who previously competed in men’s swimming, stole Emma’s first-place trophy. As a competitor in men’s swimming in 2018-19, Mr. Thomas ranked 554^th in the 200-yard freestyle and 65^th in the 500-yard freestyle. After deciding to compete against women, Mr. Thomas ranked fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and “won” the 500-yard freestyle. Mr. Thomas stole Emma’s championship trophy and took former Olympic swimmer Reka Gyorgy’s spot in the 2022 NCAA Division I Swim Meet.

Co-sponsors of Rep. Boebert’s House resolution include: Reps. Mary Miller (IL-15), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Andy Harris (MD-01), Jody Hice (GA-10), Bob Good (VA-05), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Alex Mooney (WV-02), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Jeff Duncan (TX-03), Chip Roy (TX-21), Brian Mast (FL-18), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Ted Budd (NC-13), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Lance Gooden (TX-05).

The full text of Rep. Boebert’s House resolution honoring Emma Weyant is available here.