Media Analysis of Lia Thomas Surrounding 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Win

In March 2022, swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I individual title. The current study analyzed popular online media coverage of Thomas during the month of the NCAA championships. Conservative-oriented media set the agenda by publishing a disproportionate number of articles about Thomas, frequently framing her performance as (a) illegitimate and (b) enabled by activists who “silence” their opponents. All media outlets often framed Thomas’ performance as (a) unprecedented, (b) a question of fairness as it relates to (1) science and policy and (2) concern for women’s rights, and (c) complex, while nonconservative media more frequently framed her performance as (a) a matter of LGBTQI+ rights and (b) an inspiration.