Who is Cheryl Cooky? Calls for Purdue prof to be fired for comparing Lia Thomas to Jackie Robinson

Who is Cheryl Cooky? Calls for Purdue prof to be fired for comparing Lia Thomas to Jackie Robinson
Cheryl Cooky has received criticism for saying Lia Thomas' achievements are similar to Jackie Robinson's (Purdue University and Getty Images/ Kathryn Riley and Keystone)

A professor at Purdue University has been blasted online after she compared transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to Jackie Robinson, and claimed that “her win should be celebrated”. Cheryl Cooky wrote these in an NBC op-ed titled ‘Lia Thomas' NCAA championship performance gives women sports a crucial opportunity’.

In the essay, Cooky noted, “Thomas, as the first transgender athlete to win a Division I NCAA championship, deserves to be placed among the other firsts. She should be embraced in the history of progress that sports represent and recognized as the trailblazer that she is.” She went on to say that “for anyone who cares about the advancement of sports, and women's sports in particular, her win should be celebrated.”

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