Riley Gaines Reacts To Lia Thomas Olympics Ruling: 'Victory For Girls'

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Thanks to a court ruling, biological male swimmer Lia Thomas will not be permitted to swim in the Olympics in the women's category this summer. 

As OutKick's Mark Harris reported earlier Wednesday, Thomas "lost a legal battle against World Aquatics in which Thomas argued their ban [on Thomas] from competing against females was ‘invalid and unlawful.’

"The 25-year-old was barred from swimming in the female category in the Summer of 2022 when the sport's governing body prohibited anyone who had undergone ‘any part of male puberty’ from competing against biological females," Harris wrote.  

The court upheld the ruling by World Aquatics, meaning that if Thomas wants to compete in the Olympics, the swimmer would have to swim against men. Of course, Thomas is not nearly fast enough in the pool to compete against men. 

Riley Gaines, host of the OutKick podcast "Gaines for Girls" and one of the most influential pro-woman voices in the country, delivered a statement about the court ruling. 

"This ruling is a small victory for girls and women everywhere," Gaines said. "I think we will see more wins like this both in the judicial courts and the courts of public opinion as time goes on. 

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas and Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines react after finishing tied for 5th in the 200 Freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18th, 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta Georgia.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas (a biological male, born William Thomas) and Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines react after finishing tied for 5th in the 200 Freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18th, 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"Although he would never qualify, Thomas can still try out for the men's U.S. Olympic team. I hope the NCAA now takes a similar decisive action by stripping Thomas of all awards, titles, and records he stole from deserving female athletes."

Thomas won a women's National Championship at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, becoming the first biological male to win a women's national championship. 

In addition, Gaines and Thomas tied one another in a different event and the NCAA told Gaines that Thomas would receive the trophy instead of her because it would be "better for photo ops." 

Gaines, along with 15 female athletes, is currently suing the NCAA over Thomas' inclusion in women's events as well as having access to women's locker rooms and bathrooms.

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.