OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
12-time All-American Riley Gaines of the University of Kentucky was a swimming champion.
However, in her senior year, left-wing social justice warriors operating inside the NCAA allowed a biological male to suddenly switch to the women’s team after three season on the men’s team.
Lia Thomas, formerly William, was ranked 462 among other males. Thomas defeated Gaines and finished first place at the NCAA Women’s Championship.
Former Kentucky swimmer @Riley_Gaines_ on the injustice of being forced to compete against a biological male:
"Everything I devoted my entire life to, I was reduced to a photo op. To validate the identity of a male." pic.twitter.com/dU72Ava23P
— CPAC (@CPAC) March 3, 2023
“Everything that I have dedicated my entire life to,” Gaines said. “I was reduced to a photo op to validate the identity of a male and that’s when I decided to take a public stance and really just standing in the truth.”
Gaines explained, “So that first day of the meet, I got to personally feel the effects that this infringement had on myself and my teammates. We sat on the side of the pool and watched Lia Thomas swim to a national title in the 500 freestyle, beating out three Olympians, American record holders—the most impressive female swimmers of all time—by body lengths.”
“I want to add that this was a male swimmer who the year before was ranked at best 462nd in the men’s division,” she continued.
“And so that next day, Lia Thomas and I competed against each other in the two hundred-yard freestyle, which ultimately ended in a tie. [Applause.] Which now, now looking back, I realize kind of how God has moved through all of this, but we tied, we went the exact same time down to the 100th of a second.”
“And so upon tying, we go behind the awards podium where the NCAA officials hand you your trophy and you’re marched out and you’re named an all-American. But we go back there and the official looks at me and Lia, we’re about this far apart [indicates with her hands that they were close to each other] and he says great job. You guys tied—Lia gets the trophy.”
“And so I look at him and. I say OK, I understand we tied, and I understand there’s one trophy, but what’s your, what’s your thought process as to why Lia gets the trophy? And he said, well, for photo purposes, Lia has to have the trophy so you can pose with this one. But you go home empty-handed. Lia takes the trophy. [Boos.]”
“And so that’s truly, of course, I knew what was happening was wrong in regards to our unfair, or the disadvantages that we were at, and I knew what was happening in regards to the locker room being forced to undress in front of a fully intact biological male.”
“I knew that was wrong. But when the NCAA reduced everything that I had dedicated my entire life to, I’ve been swimming since I was four years old.”
