Riley Gaines has retired from competitive swimming, but her wins still resonate. Competing on the University of Kentucky swim team anchored her to the most coveted title, the 2022 Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. But Gaines isn’t just popular for her aquatic strides. She has a storied career as a political activist, which peaked when she encountered Lia Thomas and also gained notoriety.

Though Thomas’ inclusion in sports wasn’t an issue, her inclusion in women’s division of sports infuriated many, including Gaines. The reason? Thomas is a trans woman who previously competed in the men’s category. So, from the former’s point of view, the women are at the mouth of severe injustice. Continuing with her advocacy against this practice, the 23-year-old traced back to when Thomas came to light.

When did Lia Thomas’ story break to Riley Gaines?

In a podcast named Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC commentator invited the former swimmer to spill anecdotes after Thomas’ entry at NCAA became non-negotiable and the women “had to accept this with a smile” on their faces. But her story of when she bumped into Thomas captured the limelight in the first half of the show. “Midway through my senior year I’m right on Pace to achieve my goal uh I’m ranked third in the nation behind one amazing female swimmer”, she said with a jeer in her tone. “This swimmer was leading the country by multiple seconds. This is the first time that me and my teammates became aware of a swimmer named Lia Thomas”. Just when it sounded like a plaudit, the story took an unexpected turn. “Leading the nation by Body links”, Gaines stressed.

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When she was in absolute awe of the stunning lady, talking to her coaches while speculating, an article cleared the air. In broad daylight, Gaines read aloud, “Leah Thomas is formerly Will Thomas and swam three years on the men’s team at University of Pennsylvania before deciding to switch to the women’s team”. But she was relieved to know that Thomas was a ‘mediocre man’, from whom she was only a hundredth second away.

Which incident made Gaines an advocate?

At the 2022 NCAA Championships, Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth. But on NCAA’s decision, the latter remained out of the podium on the sixth she didn’t deserve. The NCAA governing body issues, “‘Great job, you two but you tied and we have only one trophy so we are going to give it to Lia. Sorry, Riley, you didn’t get one.'” Hence started the 23-year-old’s protest outside the NCAA convention.

When Rogan queried that since Thomas was already on steroids, her chances of taking advantage of the male attributes might have lowered. But Gaines refused to chime in, thus claiming that Thomas “was still dating women”. Moving on with her endeavors, Gaines joined hands with FIDE to bar trans women from competing in chess with the women, too.

How Many Races Has Lia Thomas Won? Is Her Request to World Aquatics Valid?