Riley Gaines lashes out at trans athlete competing at Girls' Track and Field Championships alleging it "the patriarchy"

Former swimmer and activist Riley Gaines lashed out at a picture of a trans athlete wearing the medal around their neck and the girl beside was denied one. The Girls' Track & Field Championships in Hawaii have sparked controversy again and especially stirred Gaines.

The 24-year-old former NCAA swimmer was a decorated athlete from the University of Kentucky. She encountered a trans athlete from the University of Pennsylvania, Lia Thomas, in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championships. Though Riley Gaines entered the line-up with a positive mindset, things didn't go as planned since Thomas and she both tied for the fifth position but the latter was refused the medal.

This not only left a bitter taste in her mouth but also propelled her to rally against the inclusion of biological boys in the women's teams. Riley Gaines has been an active member of the protest team outside the NCAA Convention in early 2023. Later that year, she partnered with FIDE to bar trans athletes from participating in Women's Chess.

After several media appearances and calling administrations out for making it unfair to biological women to compete alongside boys, Riley Gaines was disappointed with the Girls' Track & Field Championships in Hawaii, which allowed entry to a transgender girl in the women's team.

A transgender athlete named Lana (Brandon) Huff, competed and swept the title, denying girls the gold podium. This infuriated Riley Gaines, who took to her X handle to write:

"The boy with a smug smirk gets the shiny medal around his neck while the girl is expected to smile at his side as she is denied her medal at the Girls Track & Field Championships in Hawaii last weekend. If this isn't "the patriarchy" they constantly touted, then idk what is"

Gaines also called the practice patriarchal, therefore citing injustice to women in the athletic domain.

Riley Gaines rallies against the inclusion of Hailey Davidson in the Women's US Open

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing Examining Female Athletics And Title IX

A couple of days ago, the Florida-based golfer Hailey Davidson failed to qualify for the Women's US Open but was in a tough contention at the USGA U.S. Women’s Open qualifier in Bradenton. She finally earned the alternate spot in the Women's US Open and would be eligible to compete if any one of Amalie Zalsman or Pimpsa Sisutham ruled out.

This affected Riley Gaines and she didn't support the decision of one of the greatest events in the LPGA. She took to her X handle to write:

"It's looking promising that Hailey Davidson (male) will play in Women's US Open given he is the first alternate. US Open is the biggest event in the LPGA & they're willing to give a deserving women's spot to a less than average man"