ss “F*CK YOU!” I’m leaving the United States and moving to Australia: these were the tearful words of Lia Thomas as she announced her departure from the United States, feeling disrespected as a “QUEEN” after the massive boycott she faced for her statement: “I am 100% woman and I demand to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games.” Karoline Leavitt responded immediately to Lia’s statement with just five words, mentioning the name of an Australian swimmer “whom Lia cannot beat,” which unleashed a worldwide media storm with her unexpected reaction

 I’m leaving the United States and moving to Australia”: these were Lia Thomas’s tearful words as she announced her departure from the US, feeling disrespected as a “QUEEN” after the massive boycott she suffered for her declaration: “I am 100% woman and I demand to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games.” Karoline Leavitt responded immediately to Lia’s declaration with just five words, mentioning the name of an Australian swimmer “that Lia can’t beat,” which unleashed a global media storm with her unexpected reaction.

In an emotional announcement broadcast live from her Philadelphia home, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas broke down in tears as she revealed her decision to leave the United States and settle in Australia. “Fuck you!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling, seemingly addressing her detractors in the world of American sports and politics. Thomas, 26, has become a controversial icon since winning the NCAA women’s national championship in 2022, an achievement that sparked a global debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. Today, her departure is not just a geographical change, but a cry of defiance against what she describes as “systemic harassment” that has marginalized her in the sports world.

The immediate trigger for this emotional outburst was her recent public declaration: “I am 100% a woman and I demand to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games.” In an exclusive interview with an independent media outlet, Thomas defended her right to compete in the women’s category, arguing that her transition, which began in 2019, has fully aligned her with the required hormonal and physical standards. “I have sacrificed everything for this sport: my identity, my privacy, my mental health. I will not allow myself to be erased from history just because some people don’t understand what it means to be a woman in 2025,” she stated resolutely. However, this bold stance sparked a massive boycott. American athletes, federations, and sponsors joined a campaign that included social media petitions with over a million signatures, demanding that World Aquatics uphold its 2022 ban on transgender women in elite women’s events.

The impact was devastating for Thomas. In recent months, she has faced not only the revocation of her college records by the University of Pennsylvania—an agreement forced by the Department of Education under the Trump administration in July 2025—but also the freezing of federal funding to her alma mater and class-action lawsuits from former teammates. “I feel like a dethroned queen, disrespected and humiliated,” she confessed tearfully during her announcement. “In the United States, I am a scapegoat for political agendas. Australia represents hope: a country with more inclusive laws and a culture that values ​​diversity in sport.” Her choice of Australia is no coincidence; the island nation has been a pioneer in LGBTQ+ inclusion policies, and Thomas has already received tempting offers from clubs in Sydney and Melbourne to train for the Brisbane Games in 2032.

The response that ignited the global firestorm came from Karoline Leavitt, the controversial White House press secretary appointed during Trump’s second term. Just minutes after Thomas’s statement, Leavitt tweeted five words that resonated like thunder: “Mollie O’Callaghan will always humiliate her.” The mention of the Australian swimmer, a two-time Olympic gold medalist at Paris 2024 and considered one of the best in the world in freestyle, was a masterstroke of provocation. O’Callaghan, 21, has been praised for her speed and flawless technique, and Leavitt, known for her sharp rhetoric against “gender ideology,” used her name to underscore what many conservatives see as an inherent injustice: “Lia can’t beat a true champion like Mollie. Period.”

The reaction was immediate and chaotic. On social media, the hashtag #FuckLia trended worldwide, with memes, viral videos, and heated debates dividing public opinion. In the United States, figures like Riley Gaines, a former swimmer and anti-trans activist in women’s sports, applauded Leavitt: “Finally, someone is telling the truth. Lia Thomas doesn’t belong there.” Conversely, organizations like the ACLU and Human Rights Watch condemned the tweet as “transphobic and discriminatory,” demanding an official apology. In Australia, the Swimming Federation issued an ambiguous statement, rejecting “false quotes” attributed to O’Callaghan about Thomas—a rumor that circulated concurrently—but emphasizing its commitment to inclusion under World Aquatics rules.

The media storm transcended borders. Television programs in Europe and Latin America dedicated entire segments to the drama, with analysts questioning whether Thomas’s move to Australia could challenge international regulations. “If she joins an Aussie team, will she be able to compete in open events? This could force a change in global policies,” speculated one expert in The Guardian. Meanwhile, Thomas’s sponsors, such as the swimwear brand that backed her in 2022, distanced themselves, fearing boycotts. In an ironic twist, O’Callaghan, contacted by Australian media, simply stated: “I respect all athletes. My focus is on the water, not politics.” Her silence only fueled speculation about a potential epic showdown in future championships.

For Thomas, this departure is a rebirth. “I cried not out of weakness, but out of liberation. In Australia, I will swim like the queen I am, without fear or judgment,” she declared at the end of her video, which has already garnered millions of views. Her story, from the euphoria of her NCAA victory to her self-imposed exile, encapsulates the tensions of a divided era: inclusion or equity? Progress or tradition? While Leavitt defends her tweet as “a defense of real women,” and Thomas packs her bags for a new horizon, the sports world holds its breath. The 2028 Games in Los Angeles could be the stage for redemption or revenge, but for now, the echo of “Fuck you!” resonates like an anthem of resistance in an ocean of controversy.

This saga doesn’t end here. With Thomas landing in Sydney next week, global transgender allies are already organizing support campaigns, while opponents like Leavitt are preparing more rhetorical salvos. In a sport where every stroke counts, Thomas’s swim to Australia could be the most decisive of her career. Will the “exiled queen” triumph or sink in hostile waters? Only time, and the waves, will tell.