Gaines shares insights on competing against transgender swimmer and the impact on women’s sports

Riley Gaines recently featured on the “Joe Rogan Experience,” delving into her experiences competing against Lia Thomas, the first transgender athlete to clinch a national title in NCAA women’s swimming, during the 2022 NCAA swimming championships. Gaines, known for her vocal opposition to Thomas’s participation in women’s swimming, expressed discomfort with Thomas’s presence in women’s locker rooms, reigniting debate over transgender athletes in sports.

In the podcast, Rogan queried Gaines about Thomas’s personal life, specifically about Thomas’s sexual orientation, to which Gaines responded based on information shared by Thomas’s teammates and public posts. According to Gaines, Thomas was dating women at the time of the championships but is now engaged to a man who identifies as a woman, describing them as a lesbian couple.

Gaines also recounted a contentious moment at the NCAA championships, where she tied with Thomas but was denied a trophy, which was instead awarded to Thomas. This incident underscores ongoing controversies surrounding fairness and inclusion in women’s sports.

Since concluding her collegiate swimming career, Gaines has remained a prominent advocate for what she perceives as fairness in women’s sports. She hosts the “Gaines for Girls” podcast with OutKick and leads the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, focusing on these issues.

The dialogue between Rogan and Gaines sheds light on the complex intersections of gender identity, sports, and personal privacy, stirring continued debate over the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sports. This discussion aligns with broader societal debates on gender identity and fairness in sports, illustrating the nuanced perspectives and emotions involved.

Fox News Digital reached out to Lia Thomas for a response to the comments made on Rogan’s podcast, highlighting the ongoing discourse surrounding transgender athletes’ roles in sports competitions.