Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer who competed at Kentucky, criticized ESPN for honoring Lia Thomas in its segment «Celebrating Women’s History Month.»
Gaines has been at the forefront of women’s sports demanding fair treatment and preventing transgender women from competing against biological women at the highest level of competition. Gaines tied the former Penn swimmer at the NCAA championships last year. Thomas’ performance in the pool caused a national storm.
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University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas and Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines react after finishing tied for fifth in the 200-meter freestyle final at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on February 18. March 2022 in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«Lia Thomas is not a brave woman who WON a national title,» Gaines tweeted Sunday. “She is an arrogant, cheater who STOLEN a national title from a deserving, hard-working woman. The @ncaa is responsible.
«If I were a woman who works at ESPN, I would leave. You are a coward @espn.»
ESPN did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The segment touched on Thomas’ transition from male to female, her NCAA Championship win, and competing amidst criticism from the swimming world.
Lia Thomas after winning the 500-yard freestyle during the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at McAuley Aquatic Center on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta. (Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
ESPN HONORS LIA THOMAS IN SEGMENT ‘CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH’
«People will say, ‘Oh, she just transitioned to have an advantage so she could win.’ She transitioned to be happy,» Thomas says in the segment.
Thomas’ participation in NCAA women’s swimming during the 2021-22 season sparked a growing debate about the equity of transgender women competing against biological women. She became the first transgender woman to win an Ivy League Championship and then an NCAA Championship in the 500 free.
Lia Thomas of Pennsylvania smiles after winning the 100-yard freestyle final at the Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Harvard University, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
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But the victories did not come without scrutiny and put a clearer focus on the governing bodies of various sports to set rules regarding the participation of transgender athletes.