NCAA swimming chooses inclusion over integrity, fairness

Former USA Swimming official Cynthia Millen calls for rules to change to ensure fairness in women’s sports amid transgender athlete controversy.

I have been the head swimming coach for women at the same institution for 20 years and have professionally coached all of my adult life for over 35 years. I have personally seen the benefits as a coach and father of Division I women student-athletes.   

The opportunities presented to these women through Title IX to attend a respected university, earn scholarships, learn how to work as a team, find out what they are really made of when adversity strikes, and to benefit from the accolades bestowed upon their success and participation creates leaders and is life changing.  

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 17:  University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas swims in the 500 Freestyle finals during the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 17th, 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta Georgia.  (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) ( )

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

Texas swimmers Erica Sullivan and Evie Pfeifer embrace as 500 Freestyle winner Lia Thomas walks past during the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 17th, 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta Georgia.   (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas prepares to swim the women's 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

This year the NCAA and the Ivy League made a calculated decision to prioritize the