Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines celebrated the news that trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas lost the legal challenge to compete in women’s Olympic swimming events. On Wednesday, Gaines shared a Yahoo Sports headline on X, announcing, “Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas loses legal challenge in CAS ruling.”
According to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the panel ruled that Thomas is “not eligible to compete in elite competitions through World Aquatics or USA Swimming.” This decision means Thomas can only participate in non-elite USA Swimming events.
Gaines, a vocal advocate for women’s rights in sports, praised the ruling on her X account. “Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in the women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition,” she wrote to her one million followers. “He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling,” Gaines added, calling it a “victory for women and girls everywhere.”
The post quickly went viral, garnering over 1.3 million views. Gaines further urged the NCAA to “strip [Thomas] of every award, title, and record he stole from a deserving female athlete.” Her sentiments echoed widely on social media, with many users celebrating the decision. “Common sense for the win,” one person wrote, while another added, “Do I agree with biology? Yes, yes I do.”
World Aquatics hailed the decision as a “major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport.” In a statement, the organization reiterated its commitment to fairness and equal opportunities for all athletes, stating, “Our policies and practices are continuously evaluated to ensure they align with these core values, which led to the introduction of our open category.”
Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, has been an outspoken critic of biological males competing in women’s sports. She gained attention in 2022 when she voiced her concerns about competing against Thomas and the discomfort of sharing a locker room with him. This recent ruling marks a significant moment in her advocacy efforts and the broader discussion on gender and sports.
