Kim Jones, mother of former Yale swimmer Raime Jones, describes the emotional toll of her daughter competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, leading her to co-found the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS). ICONS now finances lawsuits against the NCAA, UPenn, Mountain West, and San Jose State University, advocating for fairness in women's sports.
Mother of Lia Thomas opponent reveals emotional toll that drove her to raise funds for women's sports lawsuits
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Kim Jones, mother of former Yale swimmer Raime Jones, describes the emotional toll of her daughter competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, leading her to co-found the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS). ICONS now finances lawsuits against the NCAA, UPenn, Mountain West, and San Jose State University, advocating for fairness in women's sports.
Trending- 1 Jan. 8, 2022: Lia Thomas competed against Yale and Dartmouth, including Raime Jones.
- 2 2022: Lia Thomas won 500 freestyle and tied with Riley Gaines in 200 freestyle at NCAA championships.
- 3 After 2022 NCAA championships: Kim Jones and Marshi Smith co-founded ICONS and held 'The Birth of ICONS' conference.
- 4 March 2024: Gaines vs. NCAA lawsuit announced, financed by ICONS.
- 5 Ongoing: ICONS finances other lawsuits against UPenn, Mountain West, San Jose State University.
- Lawsuits have been filed against the NCAA and various universities regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports.
- The issue continues to be a subject of debate and activism, causing emotional distress for some athletes and their families.
What: Kim Jones, mother of a swimmer who competed against Lia Thomas, co-founded the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) to fund lawsuits challenging the participation of transgender women in women's sports due to the emotional impact on athletes.
When: January 8, 2022 (tri-meet); 2022 NCAA championships; March 2024 (Gaines vs. NCAA lawsuit announced).
Where: Ivy League, University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Dartmouth, Las Vegas (NCAA annual conference), Mountain West, San Jose State University.
Why: To address the perceived unfairness and emotional distress caused by transgender women competing in women's sports, and to advocate for the integrity and fairness of women's sports.
How: Kim Jones co-founded ICONS with Marshi Smith, organized a conference ('The Birth of ICONS'), and is now financing legal challenges against sports organizations and universities.