Lia Thomas' Potential NCAA Competitor Welcomes Race Against Trans Athlete

Olympic swimmer Brooke Forde says she would welcome a race against her rival NCAA competitor Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania who garnered national attention for dominating records last year.

While a number of former Olympians and U.S. National Team swimmers have thrown their support behind Thomas, Forde became the first collegiate rival to weigh in on the conversation on whether Thomas should be permitted to compete in women's events.

"I believe that treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be, which is why I will not have a problem racing against Lia at NCAAs this year," Forde said in a statement read by her father, sportswriter Pat Forde, on Tuesday's episode of the College Football Enquirer podcast.