Riley Gaines Explains Her 200 Freestyle Against Lia Thomas

Riley Gaines has spoken extensively about her perspective on the 200-yard freestyle race at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where she tied with Lia Thomas for fifth place. From Gaines’ point of view, the situation was deeply frustrating and disheartening.

Initially, Gaines states she believed the NCAA would recognize the unfairness of a biological male competing in women’s sports. However, when the NCAA allowed Thomas to participate, Gaines felt it was a “slap in the face” to female athletes. The tie itself was a significant moment for Gaines, but the aftermath amplified her frustration. She recounts being told by an NCAA official that only one fifth-place trophy was available, and it would be given to Lia Thomas, while Gaines would have to pose with a sixth-place trophy and wait for hers to arrive by mail. Gaines viewed this as a clear prioritization of a transgender athlete over the biological female competitors.

Beyond the race itself, Gaines has also spoken about the discomfort she and other female swimmers felt sharing a locker room with Thomas, emphasizing concerns about physical safety and privacy. This experience, coupled with the trophy incident, solidified her conviction that the NCAA’s policies were discriminatory against female athletes and undermined the integrity of women’s sports. She has since become a prominent advocate against the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, leading lawsuits and speaking publicly to defend what she believes are the rights of biological females in athletics.