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"It was a totally violating experience"- Riley Gaines lashes out at NCAA policy as she speaks on sharing a locker room with a transgender athlete
Riley Gaines recently voiced her dissent against the NCAA locker room policies that allow transgender athletes to share spaces allotted to women athletes. Gaines has been an ardent advocate for women's safety in sports since an incident that unfolded at the 2022 NCAA National Swimming and Diving Champiosnhips.
The former University of Kentucky swimmer competed against Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete in the 200-yard freestyle event. Although both the athletes tied for fifth place after registering a time of 1:43.40, only Thomas was awarded with the fifth place trophy, stating Gaines would receive it through mail, which did not sit well with her.
The former collegiate swimmer has frequently opposed the NCAA's Title IX policy, which curtails sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government.
Recently, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over legalized sports gambling, Senator Josh Hawley questioned NCAA President Charlie Baker about NCAA's policy of allowing transgender athletes to use facilities based on gender identity. Baker backed the policy stating athletes could seek athletes have options to find alternatives.
Gaines expressed her resentment on this while reflecting on the disturbing experience at the 2022 Championships, stating that the situation was humiliating and uncomfortable for her.
"I can't even put into words the feeling of humiliation, the feelings of embarrassment, it was awkward, it was uncomfortable, and it was a totally violating experience to be in that locker room and to be reprimanded as women. If we even dared to question this policy out loud we were the ones who were sent to sensitivity training, we were the ones who were told to learn how to be comfortable, and how to feel okay with this."
Riley Gaines lauds Senator Josh Hawley for confronting NCAA President Charlie Baker on NCAA locker room policies
Riley Gaines recently praised Senator Josh Hawley for challenging NCAA President Charlie Baker on locker room policies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Hawley articulated that the current policies are infuriating and outrageous and called out Baker for avoiding accountability. Gaines appreciated the senator and wrote:
"At the hands of NCAA leadership, my teammates & I had to strip down naked in front of a 6'4", fully intact, naked man."
"Where's the accountability @NCAA ? Stop blaming others for your failures. Thanks to @HawleyMO for holding their feet to the fire."
Riley Gaines also questioned the NCAA over the participation of transgender athlete Blaire Flemming in the Mountain West Women's Volleyball Championship tournament.
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