LEXINGTON, Kentucky (LifeSiteNews) – A University of Kentucky female swimmer exposed the NCAA’s bias in favor of William “Lia” Thomas, a gender-confused male swimmer who competes against women.
Riley Gaines tied with the University of Pennsylvania’s Thomas at one of the swimming events at the NCAA championships, but officials told her Thomas needed to pose with the fifth-place trophy and Gaines could have the sixth-place one, even though the pair had the same time.
It’s part of a broader issue of men competing against women, Gaines told Tucker Carlson on Fox News Wednesday.
“I think the NCAA handled everything extremely poorly,” Gaines said.
“I went behind the podium to collect my fifth-place trophy, and they kind of blatantly told me Lia would hold the fifth-place trophy and that I could pose with the sixth-place trophy for photos and would be mailed a fifth-place trophy,” Gaines said.
The University of Kentucky swimmer told the Fox News host that when she questioned why Thomas would receive the trophy, an NCAA official said the trophies were being given out in “chronological order.”
“What does that mean? We tied, what are we being chronological about?” Gaines said she asked the NCAA official.
“We’re just going to give the trophy to Lia, we respect and admire your swim, but Lia needs to hold the trophy,” the NCAA official said.
Gaines said the other swimmers standing nearby were all “shocked” to hear this. “I know the NCAA wasn’t prepared for a situation like this, which just tells me, when they were faced with it, they protected just a small minority,” Gaines said.
She said the situation of men competing against women has gotten out of control.
“It’s finally gotten to the point where it’s being shown, and it’s completely violating women and women’s rights, especially in sports,” the swimmer said.
Gaines said she represents other female swimmers who have been told not to share their opinions.
She said university media reps and athletics directors are telling swimmers to be quiet.
“Don’t say anything, just avoid the situation … save face a little bit,” Gaines said swimmers are being told. She said that the University of Kentucky has been supportive of her, however.
“I am almost certain I’m speaking for a large majority of female athletes that this is just not okay and it’s not fair,” Gaines said. She cited the biological differences between men and women and how no amount of puberty blockers can eliminate the differences.
“What we’re seeing is cheating,” Carlson said to conclude the interview.
LifeSiteNews reached out through the NCAA’s media inquiry form on Friday morning for comment on Gaines’ allegations, but did not receive a response.