Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and NCAA All-American, and her husband Louis Barker are preparing to welcome their first child, a baby girl, in September. The announcement was made Saturday, with Gaines sharing the news on her Instagram account. In a heartfelt post, she expressed her excitement and gratitude, writing, ‘God is SO good all the time.’ This personal announcement comes at a time when Gaines has been at the center of a contentious debate regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, a topic that has sparked significant controversy and public discourse.
Gaines, who has been a vocal advocate for female athletes, has recently engaged in public discussions with Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles over the issue of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. The tension escalated when Biles responded to a social media post by Gaines that criticized a Minnesota softball team which had won a state championship with the performance of a trans player. Biles criticized Gaines’ stance, calling her ‘truly sick’ and launching a personal attack on her physical appearance. The public feud between the two athletes has sparked a broader debate on gender and sports, with many voices weighing in on both sides of the issue.
As the debate continues, Gaines has also been addressing the personal body-shaming remarks made by Biles during a speech at the Turning Point USA Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Texas, where she first announced her pregnancy. There, she emphasized her commitment to the cause of fair sports for female athletes, stating that the next generation is in the spotlight and that the fight for their future is as important as the fight for her own. Her husband, Louis Barker, joined her on stage, expressing his support and gratitude for the community’s efforts in supporting female athletes.
In response to Biles’ apology, which she later issued, Gaines accepted the apology and invited Biles to join the effort to support fair sports and a future for female athletes. This reconciliation marks a potential turning point in their public feud, as both athletes seek to move forward with a shared goal of promoting inclusivity while maintaining the integrity of sports for female athletes. As the couple prepares for their new family member, they are embarking on a journey that is as personal as it is public, carrying the weight of social issues into their own private life.