Column: Lia Thomas sparks all sorts of conflicting thoughts
University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas competes in the 500-yard freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas competes in the 500-yard freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:07 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:10 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas competes in the 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Friday, March 18, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas competes in the 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Friday, March 18, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 18, 2022 07:21 PM EDT
University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas swims in a preliminary heat for the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas swims in a preliminary heat for the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:07 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the Women's NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming championship start Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the Women's NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming championship start Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:08 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas competes in a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas competes in a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:09 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas gestures as she holds the trophy after winning the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas gestures as she holds the trophy after winning the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 06:58 PM EDT
University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat of the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat of the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:08 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas does a television interview after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas does a television interview after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 06:58 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas smiles after winning a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas smiles after winning a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, in at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:09 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas reacts after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas became the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas reacts after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Thomas became the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:02 PM EDT
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Mar. 17, 2022 07:11 PM EDT