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    Riley Gaines speaks at a vigil held for Charlie Kirk outside the Sumner County Administrative Building in Gallatin Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
    Riley Gaines speaks at a vigil held for Charlie Kirk outside the Sumner County Administrative Building in Gallatin Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
    Riley Gaines speaks at a vigil held for Charlie Kirk outside the Sumner County Administrative Building in Gallatin Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
    Riley Gaines speaks at a vigil held for Charlie Kirk outside the Sumner County Administrative Building in Gallatin Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
    Olympics

    “Sports Made me who I am” – Riley Gaines Pens Inspiring Message On National Girls And Women In Sports Day

    Riley Gaines recently opened up about the impact of sports on her, stating that it shaped her into the woman she is today. Gaines competed as a professional swimmer for the University of Kentucky before retiring from the sport.

    During Gaines’s collegiate career as an elite swimmer, she became a 12-time All-American and an SEC Champion. She recorded stunning times on multiple occasions, including 1:42.62 in the 200-yard freestyle and 1:51.51 in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2022 SEC Championships.

    The Nashville native was also a school record holder in the 200-yard butterfly. At the 2022 NCAA Division I Championships, she tied in fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. Following this, she concluded her career and moved to advocacy.

    As the country celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Gaines credited her successful swimming and advocacy career to sports and wrote:

    “Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day.”
    “Sports made me who I am, and I’m forever grateful for the lessons, strength, and opportunities they gave me. #SaveWomensSports,” she added. 
    Riley Gaines began her advocacy journey after the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle event. During the award ceremony, Thomas, who became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title, was presented the trophy, while Gaines was asked to pose with a sixth-place one, which did not sit well with her.

    Riley Gaines Once Opined Why Banning Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports Is Necessary

    Riley Gaines once opened up on why banning transgender athletes from women’s sports is necessary, stating that making them compete together will demotivate the young female athletes. In an interview with Fox News, she added that the young female athletes may be subject to physical and mental health damage.

    “Title IX was written to protect women based on biological sex – not self-identified gender. To lose that foundational truth is to lose the heart of the law itself. Growth in sports is about more than medals – it’s about pushing ourselves mentally and physically, developing character, working hard, failing with grace, and winning with integrity.”
    “Sports are the training ground for life. If we allow Title IX to be redefined, we risk losing not just championships – but the next generation of women leaders.”
    [advocate]
    Gaines has frequently called for reforms in NCAA policies regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
    Read more:
    “They’re Collapsing” – Riley Gaines Calls For Urgent NCAA Reform Amid NIL Chaos And Eligibility Controversies
    Article written by Janhavi Shinde
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