Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas becomes national champion

University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas took first place in the 500-yard freestyle event during the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday.

The university announced that Thomas' time of 4:33.24 set a program record and even beat out an Olympic silver medalist in the process. Brooke Forde, who took the silver in Tokyo for the 4x200 meter freestyle, took fourth place with a time of 4:36.18, Fox News reported.

Freshmen competitors Emma Weyant and Erica Sullivan placed second and third, respectively.

Thomas, 22, previously spent three years on the Penn men's team before transitioning and took a year off while undergoing treatment before joining the school's women's team, according to the New York Post.

The women's championships run through Saturday, and Thomas will further compete in the 200-yard and 100-yard championships.

Thomas' participation has raised concerns about the fairness of biological men competing in women's sports.

USA Swimming updated its transgender-participation policy earlier this year to limit the testosterone levels of eligible transgender athletes after the NCAA allowed each sport to craft its own position.

The NCAA reversed its policy weeks later, saying that "implementing additional changes at this time could have unfair and potentially detrimental impacts on schools and student-athletes intending to compete in 2022 NCAA women's swimming championships."