Lia Thomas says she transitioned to be happy, not to win swimming titles

• Athlete was first trans swimmer to win US college title
• Critics say Thomas had an unfair advantage over competitors

Lia Thomas, who earlier this year became the first transgender swimmer to win a major US college title, has pushed back against criticism that she had an unfair advantage over her competitors.

Thomas won the NCAA 500m freestyle title in March. USA Swimming's policy states that trans athletes must undergo three years of hormone replacement therapy before being allowed to compete. Thomas was six months short of that target when she won the title but the NCAA, the governing body of college sports in the US, decided not to adopt USA Swimming's rules and allowed her to compete.