My daughter is a D1 swimmer who has occasionally competed in the 500 free like Lia Thomas, so this is particularly emotion for our family (she fortunately goes to a school where this would have never been allowed). I have a good friend whose son was on the Penn swim team. It's not as simple as the female athletes refusing to compete. The Penn swimmers were literally bullied and threatened with expulsion and having their future careers ruined by the school administration and athletic department. I have heard of similar at other schools if the athletes speak out. With the new Title IX interpretation, these threats are very real and can ruin a career. And there are definitely some female swimmers who are just fine with it. It's absurd and disgusting, but this is our modern society.