Which college did Riley Gaines go to?

Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, Riley Gaines is the Daughter of Brad and Telisha Gaines. She started her dentistry school career at the University of Kentucky after completing her elementary education at Station Camp High School. Having qualified for the 2018 US Nationals, she started her swimming career. She was raised in an athletic household—her mother played softball at Austin Peay and Donelson Christian Academy, while her father played football at Vanderbilt University—and she eventually took up swimming. The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships were held in Tokyo, Japan in 2018 when she won a bronze medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. She further placed sixth in the 100-meter freestyle competition and fourth in the 200-meter freestyle competition.

In the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay events, she won two gold medals, demonstrating her remarkable swimming prowess in the 2019 World University Games in Naples, Italy. She won bronze in the 100-meter freestyle competition and silver in the 200-meter freestyle competition, carrying on her winning streak.

Riley Gaines’s Collegiate Career

Gaines joined the University of Kentucky swimming team and was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2019. In both 2019 and 2020, she was named to the All-SEC Second Team. At the 2021 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, she placed second in the 4x200 yard freestyle relay and eighth in the 200 freestyle competition. She was named to the All-SEC First Team that year.

Gaines tied for fifth place in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship for the University of Kentucky in 2022, alongside University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who became the first openly trans woman champion in the NCAA women's division after winning the 500-yard freestyle. The aftermath led to her reported advocacy against trans women in sports competing in the women’s division.

How much did Riley Gaines average in College?

Freshman (2018-19)

She was honored for her excellence on the field and awarded a place on the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team. At the SEC Championships, she performed fantastically and placed third in the 800 free relay and scored points in the 200 free relay as well.

Furthermore, she earned the All-American Honorable Mention title for two successive years and was equally crowned the Freshman Award at the end of the season banquet. Riley's remarkable success did not limit itself to sports, as she was named to the CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team and the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. These honorable mentions demonstrated that she was simultaneously a swimming queen and a scholar.

Sophomore (2019-20)

During her sophomore year, Riley Gaines kept improving her performance and managed to maintain her position as one of the best performers in the SEC. She was named the All-SEC Second Team player and also proved her versatility and power, securing 44 individual points at the 2020 SEC Championship. By setting new personal bests, she got the fiercest finishes, finishing 10th in the 200 butterfly and 11th in the 200 freestyle.

Besides that, she was included in the 800 freestyle relay squad that finished second, and she managed an NCAA "A" cut as well as posted her career-best time in the 200 freestyle relay. She earned the Most Improved Swimmer award through her incredible improvement in the sport and was named to the 2020 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team and the 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll which are the accolades bestowed to her for her excellence not only in swimming but in academics as well.

Junior (2020-21)

Nevertheless, Riley Gaines' junior year equally built up the momentum with her outstanding play that eventually led her to the All-SEC First Team. At the SEC Championships where she proved why she deserves to call herself the champion of the event, she won in the 200 free, and made a new school record, in addition to placing fourth in the 200 fly and sixth in the 100 free. Among the landmarks of her relay career, relay success was crucial such as anchoring the winning 800 freestyle relay and giving a hand in the UK's first-ever SEC relay title.

Gaines' successful record kept pitching on at the NCAA Championship, ranking second in the 200 free individual event and contributing to the relay races, one of which was as her anchor for the 800 free relay on the national runner-up level. Her superior season occurred as well with her winning some awards including the Wildcat of the Year Award and the Captain's Award, and also gaining recognition in the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and the CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team besides her performance in the pool and at school.

Senior (2021-22)

In her senior season, Riley Gaines capped off what was arguably one of the most successful swim careers in the history of the Kentucky Wildcats program. However, being chosen for another All-SEC First Team, she showed her unquestionable mastery and ability along the season all the way. At the SEC Championships, she left an indelible mark by shattering records and claiming gold in the 200 fly, breaking both the SEC meet and conference records with a remarkable time of 1:51.51. Besides retaining her gold medal in the 200 free, she finished 4th in the 100 free and all three of the individual events set a new school record.

Gaines's prowess extended beyond individual events, as she contributed to relay success, earning silver in the 800 free relay with a blistering split of 1:41.92- the greatest record to beat. At the NCAA Championships, she tied for 5th place in the 200 free and 13th in the 200 fly relay and contributed to the relay events. Gaines's supremacy was visible throughout the year, where she had many victories and top finishes such as breaking the Louisville pool record in the 200 free. Apart from being a skillful athlete, Gaines's diligence, diligence, and persistence, made her a great student, the SEC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and an excellent humanitarian, receiving the Sullivan Award and the SEC Brad Davis Community Service Leader of the Year.

Furthermore, that year, she showed her leadership when she was the co-captain for the second year, and she was honored with different awards at the program's annual banquet and the CATSPY Award. Her fantastical season culminated in her inclusion into the CoSIDA Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team, a recognition that showcased her skill both on and away from the pool. She, therefore, emerged as not only a high-caliber athlete but also an exemplary student in every sense.

Where did Riley Gaines go for high school?

Gaines has achieved success at both the state and national levels. She attended Station Camp High School in Gallatin, Tennessee. She took first place in both the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly events at the 2017 TISCA High School Swim & Dive Championship in Knoxville as a junior.