Cameron Frew
Former US vice president Mike Pence has said Lia Thomas wasn't the true winner of a recent NCAA swimming tournament.
Three years before transitioning, she competed on the men's swimming team, but Thomas has since joined the University of Pennsylvania’s women's team, and her dominance in competitions has sparked debate about eligibility.
Most recently, Kentucky competitor Riley Gaines, who recently tied with Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle NCAA swimming championships, claimed the 'large majority' of athletes think her competing shouldn't be allowed.
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Thomas emerged victorious at the NCAA Division I championships, beating University of Virginia swimmer Emma Weyant in the 500-yard freestyle.
Pence later appeared as a featured speaker at an event hosted by the university's chapter of the Young America’s Foundation.
One member of the audience complained over the institution's 'tradition of excellence' being 'upended by the woke left', and asked Pence for his thoughts on Weyant, who was supposedly 'robbed of a medal'.
He replied: "Thank you so much for that thoughtful question. Emma Weyant won that race.
"I know that in his State of the Union address, President [Joe] Biden promised to stand for the God-given right of men to compete in women's sports."
This prompted laughter in the audience, in reference to Biden's efforts towards LGBTQ+ rights and recognising Transgender Day of Visibility.
Pence continued: "Common sense needs to reign, and it will reign. Women's sports is a pathway toward achievement and excellence.
"I expect there are some outstanding women athletes in the room today – maybe some looking on. And we need to defend the integrity of women's sports in America for the benefit of women everywhere."
During his address, he also said: "One of the most troubling developments of this past year has been the Biden administration's wholehearted embrace of the Woke Left's all-encompassing assault on culture and values.
"I don't have to tell conservatives on any campus in America about the assault on free speech."
Pence's comments echo Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who refused to recognise Thomas as the winner of the race in March.
DeSantis said her victory 'undermined the integrity of the competition', and accused the NCAA of 'destroying women's athletics'.
He said: "They're crowning somebody else the women's champion and we think that's wrong.
"They are putting ideology ahead of opportunity for women athletes and I think that there are just some people that are afraid to speak out and say what they are doing, but that is what they are doing."
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