Iszac Henig

Henig was born in {{birth based on age as of date |16|2016|09|13|noage=1}},{{cite news |last1=Lokey |first1=Fiona |title=Izzi Henig: Dreaming of Olympic Glory |url=https://www.machronicle.com/izzi-henig-dreaming-of-olympic-glory/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=M-A Chronicle |publisher=Menlo-Atherton High School |date=September 13, 2016 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105233211/https://www.machronicle.com/izzi-henig-dreaming-of-olympic-glory/ |url-status=live }} and was assigned female at birth.{{cite news |title=Video Trans college swimmer speaks out on sports' inclusion |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/trans-college-swimmer-speaks-sports-inclusion-82976349 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=Nightline |publisher=ABC News |date=February 18, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111185408/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/trans-college-swimmer-speaks-sports-inclusion-82976349 |url-status=live }} He grew up in Menlo Park, California.

Henig joined his first summer swimming team at the Ladera, California, recreation district at the age of four,{{cite news |last1=MacLeod |first1=Hannah |title=Diving Into the Deep End |url=https://www.machronicle.com/into-the-deep-end-with-m-a-swimmers-busque-dunn-tedesco-and-henig-2/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=M-A Chronicle |publisher=Menlo-Atherton High School |date=April 30, 2016 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106215226/https://www.machronicle.com/into-the-deep-end-with-m-a-swimmers-busque-dunn-tedesco-and-henig-2/ |url-status=live }} initially to get a suit with a dolphin on it. He was inspired to compete further by Michael Phelps's record number of gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and began training seriously, starting with year-round swimming at the age of eight. By 2016, he was up to three hours of daily training. He was the only competitive swimmer in his family.

Henig knew he identified as a boy at the age of 14, but was not ready to make the commitment to gender transition.{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=Lori |title=Yale transgender swimmer Iszac Henig drowns out the noise and is here to swim fast and have a good time |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-sp-yale-transgender-swimmer-speaks-out-20220124-j4fhdbunibdork7ciftk3nb7cq-story.html |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Hartford Courant |date=January 24, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106211124/https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-sp-yale-transgender-swimmer-speaks-out-20220124-j4fhdbunibdork7ciftk3nb7cq-story.html |url-status=live }} He swam and played water polo in the Castilleja School for girls through 2015, using the gender ambiguous nickname Izzi Henig.{{cite news |last1=Mazeika |first1=Vytas |title=Prep swimming: M-A's Izzi Henig tough to catch in the pool |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2016/05/12/prep-swimming-m-as-izzi-henig-tough-to-catch-in-the-pool/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Chico Enterprise-Record |date=May 12, 2016 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106215228/https://www.chicoer.com/2016/05/12/prep-swimming-m-as-izzi-henig-tough-to-catch-in-the-pool/ |url-status=live }} There he was the CIF Central Coast Section champion in girls 100-yard freestyle swimming, and he took third in the state championships. In 2014, Henig's Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics 13–14 girls team set the national age group record for the 4 × 50 meter freestyle relay swimming race.{{cite news |last1=Keith |first1=Braden |title=PASA 13-14 Girls Break National Age Group Record in 200 Meter Free Relay |url=https://swimswam.com/pasa-13-14-girls-break-national-age-group-record-200-meter-free-relay/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=SwimSwam |date=August 2, 2014 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105102853/https://swimswam.com/pasa-13-14-girls-break-national-age-group-record-200-meter-free-relay/ |url-status=live }} In May 2015, Henig set a West Bay Athletic League record in the 200-yard freestyle.{{cite news |title=Amazing WBAL Results and CCS Qualifiers! |url=https://www.castilleja.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=3799 |publisher=Castilleja School |date=May 11, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106215229/https://www.castilleja.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=3799 |url-status=live }} He qualified for and attended the 2016 United States Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska,{{cite news |title=Izzi Henig '18 Qualifies for 2016 Olympic Swimming Trials |url=https://www.castilleja.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=3673 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |publisher=Castilleja School |date=March 5, 2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106215228/https://www.castilleja.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=3673 |url-status=live }} but was disqualified for a false start in preliminaries.{{cite news |last1=Bernal |first1=Terry |title=Atherton's Izzi Henig DQs at Olympic trials |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/athertons-izzi-henig-dqs-at-olympic-trials/article_218fd01c-157e-5431-a9cf-85552ad8ee38.html |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=July 4, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105102850/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/athertons-izzi-henig-dqs-at-olympic-trials/article_218fd01c-157e-5431-a9cf-85552ad8ee38.html |url-status=live }}

Henig transferred to Menlo-Atherton High School in his sophomore year in 2016, and had to sit out of competitive swimming until April.

In May 2016 he won three events at the Central Coast Section Swimming and Diving Championships, each qualifying for All-America.{{cite news |title=M-A sophomore Izzi Henig claims 3 golds |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/m-a-sophomore-izzi-henig-claims-3-golds/article_d945cf8d-1572-519d-96b6-55bc2bd18eb9.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=May 16, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171617/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/m-a-sophomore-izzi-henig-claims-3-golds/article_d945cf8d-1572-519d-96b6-55bc2bd18eb9.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mazeika |first1=Vytas |title=Girls swimming: Paly doesn't need pool to win CCS title |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/05/18/girls-swimming-paly-doesnt-need-pool-to-win-ccs-title/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=The Mercury News |date=May 18, 2016 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106150917/https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/05/18/girls-swimming-paly-doesnt-need-pool-to-win-ccs-title/ |url-status=live }} He was named the San Mateo Daily Journal Athlete of the Week for that, and later the Daily Journal Swimmer of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Bernal |first1=Terry |title=Athlete of the Week: Menlo-Atherton's Izzi Henig |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week-menlo-athertons-izzi-henig/article_50e0c374-c486-5eec-9078-841a1e61ca73.html |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=May 17, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106215227/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week-menlo-athertons-izzi-henig/article_50e0c374-c486-5eec-9078-841a1e61ca73.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bernal |first1=Terry |title=Henig sets stage for epic M-A career |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/henig-sets-stage-for-epic-m-a-career/article_3712a7dd-2d23-5da7-9eb4-69279e04d427.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=June 24, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171615/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/henig-sets-stage-for-epic-m-a-career/article_3712a7dd-2d23-5da7-9eb4-69279e04d427.html |url-status=live }} In 2017, he won multiple championships at the Peninsula Athletic League,{{cite news |last1=Eymer |first1=Rick |title=Prep report: Winning swimming performances for several locals |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2017/05/07/prep-report-winning-swimming-performances-for-several-locals |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=The Almanac |date=May 7, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106150917/https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2017/05/07/prep-report-winning-swimming-performances-for-several-locals |url-status=live }} and the 50-yard freestyle at the Central Coast Section championships.{{cite news |last1=Reeves |first1=Glenn |title=Paly girls do it again, winning another CCS swim title |url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/05/13/paly-girls-do-it-again-winning-another-ccs-swim-title |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Palo Alto Weekly |date=May 13, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106150917/https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/05/13/paly-girls-do-it-again-winning-another-ccs-swim-title |url-status=live }} In 2018, he won the Central Coast Section championships 100-yard and 50-yard freestyle and took second and fourth place in the state championships.{{cite news |last1=Mazeika |first1=Vytas |title=CCS girls swimming: Trio double dips as individual champions |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/05/13/ccs-girls-swimming-trio-double-dips-as-individual-champions/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=East Bay Times |date=May 13, 2018 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113233053/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/05/13/ccs-girls-swimming-trio-double-dips-as-individual-champions/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Taner, Henig shine at state swim meet |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/taner-henig-shine-at-state-swim-meet/article_b6fe2550-5cbb-11e8-ba65-f331ea0f9f89.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=May 21, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171613/https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/taner-henig-shine-at-state-swim-meet/article_b6fe2550-5cbb-11e8-ba65-f331ea0f9f89.html |url-status=live }} He was captain of the high school swimming team, and continued receiving coaching from former Olympian Dana Kirk of Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics.{{cite news |last1=Hopson |first1=Tigerlily |last2=Conde Rodrigues da Cunha |first2=Toia |title=SWIMMING & DIVING: 'It Feels Like Flying:' Iszac Henig '23 soars on women's swim team |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/02/03/swimming-diving-it-feels-like-flying-iszac-henig-23-soars-on-womens-swim-team/ |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=Yale Daily News |date=February 3, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171613/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/02/03/swimming-diving-it-feels-like-flying-iszac-henig-23-soars-on-womens-swim-team/ |url-status=live }}

Henig entered Yale University in the fall of 2018, to study the ocean organisms that had fascinated him in his youth, but majored in Earth and Planetary Science, for lack of a Yale Marine Biology department. He joined Davenport College, and served as a Communication and Consent Educator, an undergraduate working against sexual violence on the Yale campus.{{cite web |title=Who We Are, Spring 2019 CCEs |url=https://cce.yalecollege.yale.edu/who-we-are |website=Yale CCE Program |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102224506/https://cce.yalecollege.yale.edu/who-we-are |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |date=January 2, 2020}}

Henig continued swimming competitively. While swimming on the women's team, he was part of two Yale championship relay teams, and scored three top 10 places in each of the 2019 and 2020 Ivy League Championships.{{cite news |last1=Lepesant |first1=Anne |title=Ivy League Champion Izzi Henig of Yale Featured in Times Opinion Section |url=https://swimswam.com/ivy-league-champion-izzi-henig-of-yale-featured-in-times-opinion-section/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=SwimSwam |date=July 1, 2021 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105233208/https://swimswam.com/ivy-league-champion-izzi-henig-of-yale-featured-in-times-opinion-section/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Hindley Sets Records on Second Day Of Ivy League Championship |url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2019/2/21/2_21_2019_20055.aspx |website=Yale Bulldogs |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 5, 2023 |language=en |date=February 21, 2019 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105101131/https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2019/2/21/2_21_2019_20055.aspx |url-status=live }} In 2019 he was selected for the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American Team, recognizing students that both achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and competed at their respective NCAA Championships;{{cite web |title=CSCAA Selects 1,221 for Scholar All-America Team |url=https://www.cscaa.org/news/2019701/scholaraa |website=CSCAA |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=July 2, 2019 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113233054/https://www.cscaa.org/news/2019701/scholaraa |url-status=live }} he would be selected again in 2020 and 2022.{{cite web |title=14 Bulldogs Named to CSCAA Scholar All-America Team |url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/7/15/mens-swimming-and-diving-14-bulldogs-named-to-cscaa-scholar-all-america-team.aspx |website=Yale Bulldogs |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 11, 2023 |language=en |date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111201942/https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/7/15/mens-swimming-and-diving-14-bulldogs-named-to-cscaa-scholar-all-america-team.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=D'Addona |first1=Dan |title=CSCAA Names Scholar All-American Teams: Recognizes NCAA Qualifiers With 3.50 GPAs (Full List) |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/cscaa-names-scholar-all-american-teams-for-mens-womens-swimming/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=Swimming World News |date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113233058/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/cscaa-names-scholar-all-american-teams-for-mens-womens-swimming/ |url-status=live }} In 2020, he shared an award for scoring the most points in dual meet competition,{{cite web |title=Team Awards Announced |url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/8/25/mens-swimming-and-diving-team-awards-announced.aspx |website=Yale Bulldogs |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 5, 2023 |language=en |date=August 25, 2020 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105100855/https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/8/25/mens-swimming-and-diving-team-awards-announced.aspx |url-status=live }} and took third place in the Ivy League championships for the 100-yard freestyle. He took the 2020-2021 school year off to work at home while Ivy League swimming was canceled for the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Nicole |title=SWIMMING & DIVING: Bulldogs continue training despite various locations and enrollment decisions among team members |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/11/30/swimming-diving-bulldogs-continue-training-despite-various-locations-and-enrollment-decisions-among-team-members/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=Yale Daily News |date=November 30, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111202342/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/11/30/swimming-diving-bulldogs-continue-training-despite-various-locations-and-enrollment-decisions-among-team-members/ |url-status=live }}

In the spring of 2021, Henig came out to his parents and teammates as a trans man, and had a double mastectomy as part of his gender transition. He contributed a short essay on the subject to a June 2021 New York Times article about coming out during the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Pearlstein |first1=Joanna |last2=Harris |first2=Rachel Lee |last3=Tarchak |first3=Lisa |title=Opinion {{!}} Coming Out in a Pandemic: 'We Really Don't Have Time to Waste' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/26/opinion/pride-2021-covid-coming-out.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytopinion |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=June 26, 2021 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105232319/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/26/opinion/pride-2021-covid-coming-out.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytopinion |url-status=live }} His family and teammates accepted his gender transition, and the Yale athletics department supported him on social media. Henig chose not to use masculinizing hormone therapy such as testosterone so he could continue swimming on the women's team.

By November 2021 Henig was back in school and competing again, using the name Iszac.{{cite news |last1=Stansel |first1=Ashton |title=UConn swimming and diving falls to Yale |url=https://dailycampus.com/2021/11/10/uconn-swimming-and-diving-falls-to-yale/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=The Daily Campus |date=November 10, 2021}} That month he broke three Kiphuth Pool records, with his teammates for two 200-yard relays, and individually for the 100-yard freestyle.{{cite news |last1=Lepesant |first1=Anne |title=Yale Women Break Pool Records in Home Opener Against Columbia |url=https://swimswam.com/yale-women-break-pool-records-in-home-opener-against-columbia/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=SwimSwam |date=November 16, 2021 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106143230/https://swimswam.com/yale-women-break-pool-records-in-home-opener-against-columbia/ |url-status=live }}

On January 8, 2022, Henig set another pool record, this time at the Sheerr Pool of the University of Pennsylvania in the 50-yard freestyle, as well as helping Yale win other events in a match against Penn and Dartmouth.{{cite web |last1=Bennett |first1=Tim |title=Massey Wins Three Events, Henig Sets Pool Record as Bulldogs Stay Undefeated |url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2022/1/8/womens-swimming-and-diving-massey-wins-three-events-henig-sets-pool-record-as-bulldogs-stay-undefeated.aspx |website=Yale Bulldogs |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 9, 2023 |language=en |date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106143234/https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2022/1/8/womens-swimming-and-diving-massey-wins-three-events-henig-sets-pool-record-as-bulldogs-stay-undefeated.aspx |url-status=live }} Among the swimmers that Henig directly defeated then was Lia Thomas, a trans woman and Pennsylvania student who had been at the center of the debate about transgender people in sports, with many claiming her biological sex gave her an unfair advantage.{{cite news |last1=Yurcaba |first1=Jo |title=Amid trans athlete debate, Penn's Lia Thomas loses to trans Yale swimmer |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/trans-athlete-debate-penns-lia-thomas-loses-trans-yale-swimmer-rcna11622 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=NBC News |date=January 10, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105221829/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/trans-athlete-debate-penns-lia-thomas-loses-trans-yale-swimmer-rcna11622 |url-status=live }} Thomas came in sixth in the 100-yard freestyle, which Henig won. Henig also posted a faster time than Thomas in the 400-yard freestyle relay.{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=John |title=Trans male Iszac Henig beats trans female Lia Thomas at women's swim meet |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2022/01/trans-male-iszac-henig-beats-trans-female-lia-thomas-in-100-yard-freestyle-at-womens-swim-meet/ |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=Metro Weekly |date=January 10, 2022 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109184938/https://www.metroweekly.com/2022/01/trans-male-iszac-henig-beats-trans-female-lia-thomas-in-100-yard-freestyle-at-womens-swim-meet/ |url-status=live }} Due to Henig's, and especially Thomas's, participation, the match attracted national media attention, unusual for a college swimming meet, and boycott threats which did not materialize.{{cite news |last1=Lauber |first1=Scott |title=Lia Thomas swims on for Penn amid controversy |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/penn/lia-thomas-ncca-swimming-ivy-league-yale-transgender-20220108.html%26outputType%3Dapp-web-view |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 9, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109191617/https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/penn/lia-thomas-ncca-swimming-ivy-league-yale-transgender-20220108.html%26outputType%3Dapp-web-view |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ennis |first1=Dawn |title=2 Trans athletes competed head to head at college women's swim meet |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2022/01/10/2-trans-athletes-competed-head-to-head-at-college-womens-swim-meet/ |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Blade |date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171626/https://www.losangelesblade.com/2022/01/10/2-trans-athletes-competed-head-to-head-at-college-womens-swim-meet/ |url-status=live }} Afterwards, an anonymous Pennsylvania swimmer told the sports website OutKick that Thomas was not trying and intentionally let Henig win; Henig said that he had never met Thomas before the event.

File:Iszac Henig, Lia Thomas, Schuyler Bailar in Boston.jpg, Schuyler Bailar in Boston in 2022]]

In February 2022, Henig again faced Thomas at the Ivy League championships at Harvard University. This time, there were no protests outside, and "8 Against Hate" signs, representing the eight schools of the Ivy League, hung on the walls and on several athletes' shirts.{{cite news |last1=Hightower |first1=Kyle |title=Yale, Penn transgender athletes bring spotlight to Ivy League women's swimming championship |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-sp-ivy-championship-swwimming-20220218-upusxq6sybdcxjmuartkr7xytm-story.html |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Hartford Courant |agency=Associated Press |date=February 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106211122/https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-sp-ivy-championship-swwimming-20220218-upusxq6sybdcxjmuartkr7xytm-story.html |url-status=live }} Thomas narrowly won the 100-yard freestyle over Henig's second place alongside three other events, making her the highest scoring swimmer in the event.{{cite news |last1=Bellamy-Walker |first1=Tat |title=Trans swimmer Lia Thomas wins 4 races at Ivy championships, heads to NCAA finals |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/trans-swimmer-lia-thomas-wins-4-races-ivy-championships-heads-ncaa-fin-rcna17227 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=NBC News |date=February 22, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106161006/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/trans-swimmer-lia-thomas-wins-4-races-ivy-championships-heads-ncaa-fin-rcna17227 |url-status=live }} Henig won the 50-yard freestyle, setting a pool record as Thomas watched and applauded.{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Eric |title=Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas wins 100-yard freestyle for third title at Ivy women's championships |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/19/sport/transgender-swimmer-lia-thomas-wins-third-title-ivy-womens-championships-spt/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=CNN |date=February 20, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171615/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/19/sport/transgender-swimmer-lia-thomas-wins-third-title-ivy-womens-championships-spt/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Eric |title=How an Ivy League swimmer became the face of the debate on transgender women in sports |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/us/lia-thomas-transgender-swimmer-ivy-league/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=CNN |date=February 22, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171951/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/us/lia-thomas-transgender-swimmer-ivy-league/index.html |url-status=live }} Harvard alumnus Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender NCAA Division I swimmer, attended to support them both.{{cite news |title=Transgender swimmer's participation on women's team ignites fairness debate |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082079058/transgender-swimmers-participation-on-women-s-team-ignites-fairness-debate |access-date=January 12, 2023 |work=Morning Edition |publisher=NPR |date=February 21, 2022 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112172253/https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082079058/transgender-swimmers-participation-on-women-s-team-ignites-fairness-debate |url-status=live }}

In March 2022, when both Henig and Thomas were at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, and protesters opposing Thomas's competing were outside the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Henig wrote "let trans kids play" in sharpie marker on his bicep in support of Thomas{{cite news |last1=Cash |first1=Meredith |title=Another trans swimmer at NCAA Championships wrote a message of support for Lia Thomas on his arm ahead of a race |url=https://www.insider.com/ncaa-championships-swimmer-trans-message-arm-iszac-henig-2022-3 |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=Insider |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113233056/https://www.insider.com/ncaa-championships-swimmer-trans-message-arm-iszac-henig-2022-3 |url-status=live }} Also available as {{cite news |last1=Cash |first1=Meredith |title=Another trans swimmer at NCAA Championships wrote a message of support for Lia Thomas on his arm ahead of a race |url=https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/another-trans-swimmer-ncaa-championships-221901790.html |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=Insider |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=March 18, 2022 |language=en-CA |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109171613/https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/another-trans-swimmer-ncaa-championships-221901790.html |url-status=live }} and against transphobic legislation in sports. His motivation was that NCAA rules prohibited clothing with political statements, but there were no rules about writing on skin. Thomas eventually asked him to write it on her arm as well.{{cite news |last1=Demopoulous |first1=Alaina |title=I Used a Sharpie and My Skin to Protest Transphobic Bills During the NCAA Swim Championships |url=https://www.allure.com/story/i-used-a-sharpie-and-my-skin-to-protest-transphobic-bills-during-the-ncaa-swim-championships |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=Allure |date=March 24, 2022 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105233206/https://www.allure.com/story/i-used-a-sharpie-and-my-skin-to-protest-transphobic-bills-during-the-ncaa-swim-championships |url-status=live }} Henig took fifth place in the 100-yard freestyle at the championship, earning All-America recognition.{{cite web |title=Henig Places Fifth in 100 Free at NCAA Championship, Earns All-America Recognition |url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2022/3/19/womens-swimming-and-diving-henig-places-fifth-in-100-free-at-ncaa-championship-earns-all-america-recognition.aspx |website=Yale Bulldogs |publisher=Yale University |access-date=January 5, 2023 |language=en |date=March 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105102850/https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2022/3/19/womens-swimming-and-diving-henig-places-fifth-in-100-free-at-ncaa-championship-earns-all-america-recognition.aspx |url-status=live }} Thomas was also in the race (finishing eighth),{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Karleigh |title=Iszac Henig, Lia Thomas are All-Americans in women's 100-free |url=https://www.outsports.com/2022/3/17/22982977/lia-thomas-iszac-henig-transgender-swimmer-ncaa-championships-penn |website=Outsports |access-date=January 13, 2023 |language=en |date=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925153549/https://www.outsports.com/2022/3/17/22982977/lia-thomas-iszac-henig-transgender-swimmer-ncaa-championships-penn |url-status=live }} making it the first NCAA championship final race with two transgender competitors.{{cite news |last1=D'Addona |first1=Dan |title=Ivy League Champ Iszac Henig Transitions to Yale Men's Team, Tells NY Times: 'Living in Authenticity Makes Me Stronger' |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/ivy-league-champ-iszac-henig-transitions-to-yale-mens-team-tells-ny-times-living-in-authenticity-makes-me-stronger/ |access-date=January 10, 2023 |work=Swimming World News |date=January 5, 2023 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109183209/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/ivy-league-champ-iszac-henig-transitions-to-yale-mens-team-tells-ny-times-living-in-authenticity-makes-me-stronger/ |url-status=live }} A group of University of Arizona swimmers cited Henig's achievement in an open letter to the NCAA Board of Governors to oppose transgender athletes competing, writing that Henig's All-America award-winning time would have failed to reach the men's qualifying time.{{cite news |title=University of Arizona Stars Write Letter to NCAA on Lia Thomas, Transgender Debate |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/university-of-arizona-stars-write-letter-to-ncaa-on-lia-thomas/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Swimming World News |date=March 25, 2022 |quote=Female to male transgender athletes do not have the same opportunities as their male to female counterparts. They are heavily disadvantaged when it comes to earning a spot on the team they identify due to strength and speed differences between gender categories. This was represented this year in the 100 freestyle by Yale’s Iszac Henig, a transgender male competing at the women’s championship. This swimmer placed fifth in the event. Henig’s time of 47.52 earned the swimmer an All-American award and added 13.5 points to Yale’s team score. Had Henig chosen to swim at the men’s competition however, the same time would have failed to even reach the men’s A qualifying time of 41.71 by almost six seconds dashing the whisper of a chance this swimmer would even step up to the block. |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106174444/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/university-of-arizona-stars-write-letter-to-ncaa-on-lia-thomas/ |url-status=live }} Outsports named Henig and Thomas joint Transgender Athletes of the Year in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Karleigh |title=Lia Thomas & Iszac Henig: Outsports Trans Athletes of the Year |url=https://www.outsports.com/2022/12/23/23514654/lia-thomas-iszac-henig-penn-yale-ivy-ncaa-trans-athletes-award |website=Outsports |access-date=January 6, 2023 |language=en |date=December 23, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106211122/https://www.outsports.com/2022/12/23/23514654/lia-thomas-iszac-henig-penn-yale-ivy-ncaa-trans-athletes-award |url-status=live }}

Henig went on testosterone-based hormone therapy after the NCAA championships and moved to the Yale men's swimming team for his 2022-23 senior season.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Yanyan |title=NCAA All-American Iszac Henig Competing On Yale Men's Team For His Senior Season |url=https://swimswam.com/ncaa-all-american-iszac-henig-competing-on-yales-mens-team-for-his-senior-season/ |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=SwimSwam |date=January 6, 2023 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109214402/https://swimswam.com/ncaa-all-american-iszac-henig-competing-on-yales-mens-team-for-his-senior-season/ |url-status=live }} When he swam in the June 2022 Ohio State Invitational, he took from 69th to 79th places in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard men's freestyle events. He wrote in a New York Times editorial that, while he realized that he would be closer to the bottom of the pack after joining the men's team, it would make him his true, authentic self.{{cite news |last1=Henig |first1=Iszac |title=Opinion {{!}} I Chose to Compete as My True, Trans Self. I Win Less, but I Live More. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/opinion/trans-athlete-swimming.html |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=January 5, 2023 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105100705/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/opinion/trans-athlete-swimming.html |url-status=live }}

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Category:2000s births

Category:Living people

Category:American male swimmers

Category:LGBTQ people from California

Category:LGBTQ swimmers

Category:Yale Bulldogs men's swimmers

Category:Yale Bulldogs women's swimmers

Category:People from Menlo Park, California

Category:Transgender sportsmen

Category:Yale University people

Category:American LGBTQ sportsmen

Category:American transgender men

Category:American transgender sportspeople

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people