The participation of Lia Thomas, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, in women’s swimming events has sparked significant emotional and legal responses. At the 2022 NCAA championships, Thomas tied with Riley Gaines, drawing attention to the broader implications for women’s sports. The controversy began earlier in the season during a tri-meet against Yale and Dartmouth, where Thomas won the 200 and 500 freestyle events. This was the first time Kim Jones, mother of former Yale swimmer Raime Jones, witnessed Thomas compete in person. The experience left a profound impact on her and her family.

Kim Jones described her reaction to seeing Thomas swim as surreal, likening it to a “Twilight Zone” experience. Her daughter Raime, who had prepared extensively for the meet, felt overwhelmed by the physical disparity between herself and Thomas. The emotional toll was compounded by what Jones described as coercive meetings held across the Ivy League, where athletes were allegedly discouraged from speaking out about their concerns.

Jones’ frustration led her to seek change. After an unsatisfactory interaction with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), she began writing anonymous op-eds and encouraged other parents to do the same. Her efforts gained momentum after Thomas’ controversial NCAA championship performance, where Thomas won the women’s 500 freestyle and tied with Gaines in the 200 freestyle.

Jones connected with Marshi Smith, a former University of Arizona swimmer, who shared her concerns. Smith had already planned to raise awareness at the NCAA annual conference by distributing flyers. Together, they organized “The Birth of ICONS,” a three-day event featuring discussions with athletes and experts on women’s sports issues.

The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) emerged from this collaboration, aiming to support legal challenges against policies allowing transgender athletes like Thomas to compete in women’s sports. ICONS is financing lawsuits against UPenn and other institutions, advocating for fairness in women’s athletics.