Former University of Kentucky swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth place against Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships, is leading a lawsuit against the NCAA over its policies that allowed the transgender swimmer to compete. The lawsuit demands that the NCAA rescind all of Thomas’ championship finishes, which remain intact despite the University of Pennsylvania’s decision to erase its program records set by Thomas.
Thomas, a former transgender athlete, won the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA championships with a time of 4:33.24, and also finished in the top 10 in several other events, denying higher finishes to female competitors. While UPenn has wiped those records from its books, Thomas’ finishes still stand nationally. Gaines, who criticized the NCAA leaders as ‘spineless’ and ‘morally bankrupt,’ is advocating for changes to the records, calling for the NCAA to take action.
At an April 18 press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted President Donald Trump’s order and Title IX as federal law, noting that violators could be ‘prosecuted.’ Gaines previously told Fox News Digital she would support prosecution as a response to the issue, calling the situation ‘criminal’ and suggesting that university officials should be charged. The NCAA, however, has not yet responded to inquiries about potential changes to Thomas’ records.
Gaines also emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of female athletes, arguing that the current policies allow a ‘man’s feelings’ to outweigh ‘our physical safety, than our rights to participate, to call ourselves champions.’ She believes that someone needs to be made an example of to prevent the ‘woman-hating Democratic Party’ from continuing its actions without consequences.