UPenn Restores Women’s Swim Records Amid Lia Thomas Title IX Controversy

The University of Pennsylvania has made headlines again, navigating the choppy waters of Title IX compliance after a contentious investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The probe, sparked by the participation of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season, concluded that UPenn violated federal law by allowing Thomas to compete in women’s events, impacting female athletes’ records and titles.

In response, UPenn reached a resolution agreement, promising to restore records to affected female swimmers. The university’s website has been updated, reinstating records like Anna Kalandadze’s 4:37.21 in the 500 freestyle (2024) and Kayla Fu’s 2025 mark in the 100 freestyle. Virginia Burns’ 2017 record of 1:45.51 in the 200 freestyle also reclaimed its rightful place. Yet, in a curious twist, UPenn’s site still nods to Thomas’ achievements, noting that under the NCAA’s eligibility rules at the time, Thomas set program records in the 100, 200, and 500 freestyle events.

The controversy began when Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to clinch an NCAA Division I title, stirring debate over fairness in women’s sports. The Education Department’s investigation, launched in February 2025, led to the Trump administration freezing $175 million in funding to UPenn for non-compliance with an executive order. By April, the verdict was clear: UPenn’s policies had disadvantaged female athletes.

In a statement, Penn President J. Larry Jameson acknowledged the competitive harm caused by the NCAA’s rules at the time, pledging apologies to affected athletes. The resolution marks a step toward accountability, but the lingering mention of Thomas’ records raises questions about the balance between inclusion and fairness in collegiate sports.