Riley Gaines Skewers Lia Thomas Over Trans Swimmer’s Latest ‘Heartbreaking’ Claim

Former All-American swimmer Riley Gaines lashed out at rival Lia Thomas after the transgender-identifying athlete complained that “trans kids lose out on opportunities” because many states and athletic bodies have barred biological males from competing against females.

In an appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Gaines, a former University of Kentucky star, cited the words of Thomas, who competed for the University of Pennsylvania men’s team before switching to the women’s team. Gaines, who has become increasingly outspoken in the cause for protecting female athletes from unfair competition, said it is men posing as women who are stealing opportunities.

“Lia Thomas [was] quoted saying, you know, ‘It breaks my heart to see trans kids lose out on opportunities,” Gaines told Morgan. “Replace that with word ‘woman.’ Does it still break Thomas’s heart to see women lose out on opportunities? Because that’s what’s happening.”

Thomas last year tied Gaines for fifth-place in the NCAA finals of the women’s 200-meter race, but it was Thomas who was initially awarded the medal. Gaines believes that decision was part of the NCAA’s effort to promote Thomas.

“From my experience competing against Lia Thomas at the national championships, I watched first-hand women lose out on opportunities,” Gaines said. “I watched women not become All-Americans, missing that eighth and 16th place by one place because they were displaced by a male. This, of course, goes against everything that Title IX was created to protect and now we have the Biden administration, the people in the White House, who are actively working to rewrite Title IX.”

“Lia Thomas said ‘it breaks my heart to see trans kids lose out on opportunities’…

“Replace that with the word ‘woman’. “

Riley Gaines speaks out about her former swimming competitor’s comments on trans inclusion in sports.@Riley_Gaines_ | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/KIPAfarafX

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 18, 2023

Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

After Rep. Katie Porter, (D-CA), criticized Gaines, claiming she has voiced her strong opinions about men competing against women in order to “get likes and clicks,” Gaines fired back,  “You just can’t help but laugh … it’s ironic. It’s always women fighting against women’s sex-protected spaces and rights.”

“I’m speaking for every female athlete, not just myself,” she said. “I’m done competing. This isn’t about me. But I know what’s at stake if someone doesn’t use their voice. I have a younger sister. I just got married. I can only hope one day that I have a daughter and I can’t imagine being in this position and not fighting for them.”

Gaines was recently mobbed by transgender activists and forced to shelter in a locked room for hours when she visited San Francisco State University to advocate for the rights of female athletes. Video on social media showed Gaines being hustled to safety by police officers as a mob of radical transgender activists followed her, shouting “Trans rights are human rights!”

Championing the cause of protecting female athletes has cost Gaines, she said.

“Nothing has been for personal advancement,” she told Morgan. “Nothing has been for monetary value for me. I was supposed to be in dental school this year. So, by no means did I even feel equipped to do what I’m doing. This is not about me, and hearing her say that showed her true ignorance.”

Gaines has become the face of a movement, and recently laced into U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe for slamming H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

In March, Rapinoe tweeted, “Today, politicians in DC are claiming to ‘protect women’s sports’ by pushing a trans & intersex sports ban. Call your Congressional rep today to say women’s sports need protection from unequal pay, sexual abuse & lack of resources, NOT from trans kids.” She followed by signing a letter published Monday that condemned the legislation.

Gaines accused Rapinoe of “virtue signaling,” on Twitter.

“I can respect opinions that differ from my own and everyone is entitled to think/speak independently, but I can’t help but think Megan Rapinoe would genuinely shiv any male who tried to take her spot on the US Women’s National Team,” according to Fox News. Gaines later deleted the tweets.

In late March, Gaines ripped ESPN for their “Celebrating Women’s History Month” segment in which they lauded Lia Thomas, a biological male,  for becoming “the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I Championship by winning the 500 Freestyle.”

Gaines tweeted, “Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title. He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman. … The @ncaa is responsible. If I was a woman working at ESPN, I would walk out. You’re spineless @espn #boycottESPN.”

Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title. He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman. The @ncaa is responsible.

If I was a woman working at ESPN, I would walk out. You’re spineless @espn #boycottESPN https://t.co/DF3n5RWsmV

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) March 26, 2023

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