Controversial speech against a trans swimmer: “We were forced to compete against a biologically male person”

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American swimmer Riley Gaines filed a complaint for competing with a transgender rival

American 12-time collegiate champion swimmer Railey Gaines made a strong speech in the state of Virginia during the presentation of a bill for the equality in women’s sport when questioning the participation in the tournaments of his same division to the transgender athlete Lia Thomas and exposed what he experienced months ago with his rival and with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the entity that, in his opinion, intentionally allowed this situation to happen.

In his address to the authorities, a representative of the University of Kentucky and one of the top 200 swimmers in the butterfly stroke aimed directly at her opponent. Gaines began the harsh speech of him. “My teammates and I, as well as the rest of the swimmers from all over the country, we were forced to compete against a biologically male person named Lia Thomas.”claimed the athlete.

The competition was on March 17, 2022 in the so-called Ivy League in which the eight best universities in the northwestern United States participate. Thomas was present representing Pennsylvania, still in the process of her physical transformation, and took all eyes by demonstrating supremacy over the rest of her adversaries and breaking records of world swimming stars, such as Katie Ledecky.

“Thomas was allowed to swim in the women’s competition after competing for three years on the men’s team at the University of Pennsylvania. We watched from the edge of the pool as Thomas won the 500-meter freestyle event breaking records for the most accomplished swimmers in the country, including record holders and Olympians,” the swimmer continued.

Riley Gaines watches Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who won the trial at the collegiate swimming championships (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
Riley Gaines watches Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who won the trial at the collegiate swimming championships (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

The culminating moment for Gaines would come in the 200 freestyle, a test in which he came face to face with Thomas. “We finished tied, we did exactly the same time down to the hundredths of a second. With only one trophy, the NCAA told me I was going to go home empty-handed and that trophy would go to Thomas. When I questioned it, they explained that Thomas had to hold up that trophy for the photo. I was in shock. I felt belittled and betrayed, reduced to just a photograph because my feelings didn’t matter, only those of the NCAA and of a biological man mattered,” he recounted.

Gaines complaint to the NCAA “discrimination based on sex” for allowing, according to her claim, a transgender athlete like Thomas to displace female swimmers in the discipline and on the podium. But that was not all. There was still one more chapter for the athlete.

“In addition to being forced to forfeit our awards, titles and opportunities, the NCAA requires swimmers to share the changing room with Thomas, a 22-year-old, 1.93-meter-tall male with fully intact male genitalia. Let it be clear that no one warned us and we did not give our consent. This is a violation of our privacy and some of us have been embarrassed, inconvenienced, violated and even traumatized by this situation.. I know that I do not speak for everyone, but I can attest to the tears shed in that pool, ”she closed from her podium.

Lia Thomas, the swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania who sparked controversy in the United States (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
Lia Thomas, the swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania who sparked controversy in the United States (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

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