After days of silence from most female athletes at the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships, a young woman whose finals spot was stolen from her by a biologically male swimmer is speaking out.
“My name is Reka Gyorgy from Hungary. I am a 2016 Rio Olympian, represented Virginia Tech for the past 5 years, a 2 time ACC champion, 2 time All-American and 3 time honorable mention All-American,” wrote Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy in a letter to the NCAA that she posted on Instagram.
“With all due respect, I would like to address something that is a problem in our sport right now and hurting athletes, especially swimmers,” wrote Gyorgy. “Everyone has heard and known about transgender [swimmer], Lia Thomas, and her case including all the issues and concerns that her situation brought into our sport.”
Gyorgy wrote that she respects and fully stands with Thomas and is convinced that Thomas is “no different” than Gyorgy herself or any other Division 1 swimmer who has worked hard their entire swimming career.
“She is doing what she is passionate about and deserves that right,” wrote Gyorgy. “On the other hand, I would like to critique the NCAA rules that allow her to compete against us, who are biologically women.”
“I’m writing this letter right now in hopes that the NCAA will open their eyes and change these rules in the future. It doesn’t promote our sport in a good way and I think it is disrespectful against the biologically female swimmers who are competing in the NCAA.”
Gyorgy said that she swam the 500 free at the NCAA’s on Thursday where she placed 17th — meaning that she did not make it back to the finals and was a first alternate.
“I’m a 5th year senior, I have been top 16 and top 8 before and I know how much of a privilege it is to make finals at a meet this big,” she said. “This is my last college meet ever and I feel frustrated. It feels like that final spot was taken away from me because of the NCAA’s decision to let someone who is not a biological female compete.”
“I know you could say I had the opportunity to swim faster and make the top 16, but this situation makes it a bit different and I can’t help but be angry or sad. It hurts me, my ear and other women in the pool. One spot was taken away from the girl who got 9th in the 500 free and didn’t make it back to the A final preventing her from being an All-American. Every event that transgender athletes competed in was one spot taken away from biological females throughout the meet.”
Gyorgy wrote that the “NCAA knew what was coming this past week. They knew opinions and minds will be divided and chose to do nothing.”
“This week has been more about reporters, media and division in our sport than things like two women going under 21 seconds in the 50 freestyle, 3 women going under 50 seconds in the 100 butterfly and the first woman IN HISTORY to go under 48 seconds in the 100 backstroke,” she added.
“Thursday was not a specific athlete’s fault. It is the result of the NCAA and their lack of interest in protecting their athletes,” she continued.
“I ask that the NCAA takes time to think about all the other biological women in swimming, try to think how they would feel if they would be in our shoes,” she said. “Make the right changes for our sport and for a better future in swimming.”
The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire.