| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  United States |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Freestyle, medley |
Paula Scanlan is an American swimmer who was part of the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team and a political activist. She has advocated for the exclusion of trans women in female sports and is currently an Advisor with Independent Women's Forum and Independent Women's Voice.[1]
Biography
editScanlan is from Greenwich, Connecticut and graduated from Greenwich Academy in 2018. Her mother, Cynthia Chang, is Taiwanese while her father, Kevin Scanlan, is Irish-American. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, graduating in 2022 with a degree in Computer Science. During her time with UPenn’s swim team, she competed with trans swimmer Lia Thomas.[2]
Political Activism
editIn August 2023, Scanlan and prominent activist Riley Gaines campaigned for Bill SB 15 alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott as he signed the act, also known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act” bill, at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. This bill describes itself as ensuring “that men do not compete in women’s sports at the college level in Texas.”[3] In March 2024, Scanlan gave a lecture at the University of Iowa titled "Men Do Not Belong in Women's Sports" where she spoke of her experience competing against Thomas.[4]
References
edit- ^ Mew, Andrea. "From Athletics to Activism, Paula Scanlan Isn't Afraid to Rock the Boat". Independent Women's Forum. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "2021-22 Women's Swimming and Diving Roster". Penn Athletics. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ "Press Release: Governor Abbott Celebrated Save Women's Sports Law with NCAA Swimmers Riley Gaines & Paula Scanlan". Texas Values. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Paula Scanlan Lecture and Q&A: Men Do Not Belong in Women's Sports". University of Iowa. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-08-14.