Riley Gaines is thea former NCAA swimmer. She recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where she discussed her experiences competing against Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships. Thomas, notably, made history as the first transgender athlete to clinch a national title in NCAA women’s swimming.
Gaines is known for her vocal opposition to Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming. She recounted her discomfort around Thomas in the locker room and even testified on Capitol Hill regarding the matter.
During her conversation on the “Joe Rogan Experience,” Rogan broached a sensitive topic, inquiring whether Thomas “has sex with girls.” Gaines responded, referencing information she had gleaned from Thomas’ teammates and public statements, indicating that Thomas was involved with women during the national championships. Gaines also noted Thomas’ current engagement to a man who identifies as a woman, a situation Gaines described as two men identifying as lesbians.
Reflecting on her tie with Thomas at the NCAA championships, Gaines revealed that officials opted to award a trophy solely to Thomas, depriving Gaines of recognition for her achievement.
Since graduating, Gaines has continued her advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, serving as an ambassador at the Independent Women’s Forum and hosting the “Gaines for Girls” podcast.
Fox News Digital reached out to Lia Thomas for comment regarding the remarks made by Rogan and Gaines during the podcast interview.
The conversation between Gaines and Rogan underscores the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports and highlights the complexities and controversies inherent in the discussion.