Riley Gaines, a former NCAA champion swimmer who has been vocal about the impact of transgender athletes competing against women, has expressed her concern about Vice President Kamala Harris's stance on the issue. Gaines believes a vote for Harris is a vote against the future of women in sports.
Gaines, who was forced to compete against, and share a bathroom with, a transgender female competitor during her college swimming career, recently appeared on Fox News Channel's "Jesse Waters Primetime" to discuss the controversial boxing match at the Paris Olympics.
The match in question involved Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was cleared by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete against women despite being deemed to have male chromosomes in 2023. Khelif defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in a match that ended in less than a minute, leaving Carini in tears.
Gaines drew a direct link between this controversial decision and Vice President Harris, questioning her silence on the matter. She expressed her disappointment at the lack of support from "The View," a popular daytime talk show, and called for a decisive stand on the issue.
"Crickets from Kamala, crickets from the women at âThe View,â" Gaines stated. "And if I could implore you, a vote for Kamala is a vote against your daughterâs future."
Gaines, a vocal advocate for women's sports through her podcast "Gaines for Girls" and contributions to OutKick, made a bold statement regarding the upcoming election. "I see lots of people on social media saying theyâll be voting for Kamala because she is a woman. Well, let me tell you, Jesse, I will be voting for Trump because I am a woman."
The controversy surrounding Khelif's participation in the women's boxing competition began during the 2023 International Boxing Association Womenâs World Championships. He was disqualified at that event due to concerns about his gender eligibility. However, the IOC ultimately cleared him to compete against women, a decision that has sparked debate and divided opinions.
Following the victory over Carini, the IOC doubled down on their decision to allow Khelif's participation in women's boxing. Carini's opponent, who is scheduled to fight against Khelif next, has expressed her lack of fear about the matchup, stating, "I don't care about the press."
Gaines's strong statement highlights the growing concern among many women about the impact of transgender athletes on women's sports. The controversy surrounding Khelif's participation in the Paris Olympics is likely to continue as the debate surrounding transgender athletes intensifies in the lead-up to the 2024 US Presidential Election.
