Virginia Tech University swimmer Reka Gyorgy is criticizing the NCAA, claiming that her spot in the finals at the NCAA championships was “taken away” from her by “biological male” swimmer Lia Thomas.
Reka Gyorgy — a decorated college athlete from Hungary who competed in the 2016 Olympics — was left out of the NCAA championships last week.
Gyorgy’s 17th-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle pushed her one spot out of the finals contention for the race, which controversial transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas would go on to win, achieving the fastest time recorded all season.
It was Gyorgy’s final chance to compete in the race in her college career, and she reportedly hit one of her fastest personal times all season. Unfortunately for her, it wasn’t enough.
Thomas, who has been the face of controversy as a man competing in women’s sports, was booed at the podium celebration.
In a strongly-worded letter sent to the NCAA this week, Gyorgy called out the organization over its transgender policies, SwimSwam reported.
The two-time ACC Champion and two-time NCAA All-American pressed the organization to address the issue of biological males competing in women’s sports, which she said is “hurting athletes, especially female swimmers.”
“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 wrote.
“This is my last college meet ever and I feel frustrated,” she added, referring to her failure to qualify for the finals. “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 team, and other women in the pool.”
Gyorgy also noted that she wasn’t the only female swimmer who had a finals spot stolen by Thomas.
“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,” she said.
“The NCAA knew what was coming this past week. They knew opinions and minds will be divided and chose to do nothing,” Gyorgy added.
Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan shared the full letter via her Twitter account, and also linked to a clip of a teammate of Gyorgy’s apparently describing her emotions after failing to qualify.
Pretty sure that the girl in this video was talking about Reka: https://t.co/EepQQB4idB
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) March 20, 2022
Gyorgy was described as being in tears after placing 17th in the race.