Lia Thomas's competitors in 'emotional and psychological turmoil': NCAA All-American swimmer

Jeri Shanteau explains why she is against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas competing against biological women on 'The Ingraham Angle.'

Eleven-time NCAA All-American swimming champion Jeri Shanteau described the toll that University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas's dominance of women's swimming is taking on competitors Thursday on "The Ingraham Angle."

Thomas's competitors cried with their coaches and parents after swimming against Thomas "because of the emotional and psychological turmoil that it is taking on these women."

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" … It is more than just the sport," Shanteau told host Laura Ingraham. "It is more than losing the titles, which they are certainly losing. It is also the psychological disruption that is happening to them and the lack of support that the universities and our NCAA [are] providing them. And it is abhorrent to be a part of."

Shanteau added that her opinion "is not about hate," but "about protecting women in all aspects, now and in the future."

She earned the All-American title because she "was given a fair and equal opportunity" in swimming, unlike Thomas's competitors, she said.

Lia Thomas (L) of the University of Pennsylvania stands on the podium after winning the 500-yard freestyle as other medalists (L-R) Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brooke Forde pose for a photo at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Lia Thomas looks on after winning the 500-yard freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championship at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta,