The NCAA Division I swimming championship is happening today in Atlanta and Lia Thomas has won the 500 meter freestyle race.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title after finishing first in the women’s 500-yard freestyle event Thursday evening.

Thomas pulled away in the final 150 yards to win in 4:33.24…

“I try to ignore (negative comments) as much as I can. I try to focus on my swimming and what I need to do to get ready for my races and block out everything else,” Thomas told ESPN after the race.

Here’s the end of the race. Thomas beat the 2nd place finisher by 1.75 seconds which is a lot closer than the preliminaries where Thomas won by 5 full seconds.

Penn’s Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships.

Thomas becomes the first known transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport.

Full story from @katie_barnes3: https://t.co/mYzU5uBDpS pic.twitter.com/zgmIEgKO5x

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 17, 2022

ESPN reports there was some awkward silence before Thomas got in the pool and also after she got on the podium.

The race began with the crowd cheering for each of the swimmers, but fans were noticeably quiet for Thomas’ introduction. Save Women’s Sports founder Beth Stelzer draped a vinyl banner with the organization’s phrase over the railing…

As she stood on the podium with her trophy, she flashed a peace sign, just as she did for her four Ivy League championships. And once again, the crowd was noticeably quiet as she was announced as the champion.

Outside there was a small protest by a group called Save Women’s Sports. A few counter-protesters also showed up with signs.

Georgia Tech- One pro-trans protester has come to counter the “Save Women’s Sports” protest trying to label them as “hateful” pic.twitter.com/SAcrVx2T2X

— Sav (@RapidFire_Pod) March 17, 2022

The leader of SWS spoke to a Virginia Tech swimmer who said her teammate was knocked out of the 500 free by Thomas.

Virginia Tech swimmer competing in this year’s NCAA championship details how her teammate was brought to tears after her place in the finals was taken by Lia Thomas: pic.twitter.com/mow56mVp1W

— Sav (@RapidFire_Pod) March 17, 2022

Thomas will compete in the 200 freestyle and the 100 freestyle over the next two days. She is expected to win both races.

Update: Lots of reaction to this race today.

Congrats to Virginia freshman Emma Weyant, the woman who would have won tonight’s NCAA title in the 500 meter if women’s sports were still sane. https://t.co/KYYKbIr8nt

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 18, 2022

This is a real photo.

Congratulations to 🥇Emma Weyant, 🥈Erica Sullivan, and 🥉Brooke Forde for their victories.

As for Lia Thomas — #NoThankYou#PennCheats #SaveWomensSports #SexNotGenderhttps://t.co/wHIiDwzraW pic.twitter.com/9VCj2jGDID

— Women's Voices (@WomenReadWomen) March 18, 2022

Even the announcer praised “2nd place” finisher Emma Weyant.

Man wins Women's 500 free – @ESPN: "That's where she [Thomas-male] really took control of the race. Emma Weyant [UVA, Olympian] did as much as she could to hang in there, and did a spectacular job in getting second." #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/gljyl3A1TK

— Emily Kreps (@ekreps) March 17, 2022