Conservative commentator Riley Gaines snapped back at former competitor Lia Thomas and ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann after the University of Pennsylvania bowed to President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Penn updated its athletic record books in line with the NCAA’s adopted policies of transgender athletes, which include three marks set by Thomas during the 2021-22 season.
The move to add asterisks to Thomas’ records comes after the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it reached an agreement with the school over Title IX violations related to Thomas’ participation.
Those updated records also come as Trump has called on the NCAA to ban biological men, who identify as transgender, from competing in women’s sports.
Gaines, who competed against Thomas, has built her career off the fame she gained from dissenting to Thomas’ participation. Olbermann wanted to be the first to congratulate Gaines, in his own way, after the changes were made.
‘Wanted to congratulate Whiny Gaines on now being able to say she finished tied for FOURTH not tied for FIFTH in the Lia Thomas race,’ Olbermann said on X. Thomas won a national championship in the 200-meter freestyle in 2022. Gaines tied for fifth in that race.
Riley Gaines retorted at former competitor Lia Thomas and ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann
Olbermann wanted to be the first to congratulate Gaines, in his own way, after Penn’s changes
School records at Penn set by Thomas now include asterisks due to updated NCAA policies
‘Thank you! And while you’re keeping track, make sure to congratulate Emma Weyant, the right National Champ in the 500 freestyle, too,’ Gaines replied. ‘(If you’re insinuating 5th in the nation is bad, what do you call a man who ranks 462nd nationally in the men’s category?)’
Thomas became the first openly transgender NCAA champion with the victory and has become the face of the discussion about whether biological men should compete in women’s sports.
Earlier this year, a Quakers’ statement said the school and athletic department will comply with the NCAA’s new policies.
‘The University will not – on the basis of sex – exclude female students from participation in, deny female students the benefits of, or subject female students to discrimination under, any athletics programs,’ a Penn statement read.
‘In addition, in providing to female student-athletes intimate facilities such as locker rooms and bathrooms in connection with Penn Athletics, such facilities shall be strictly separated on the basis of sex and comparably provided to each sex.’
Gaines has garnered recognition from those who approve of the ban of transgender athletes in women’s sports from the decision to add asterisks to Thomas’ records.
The win for Gaines comes less than a month after she was in a feud with Simone Biles over the subject, which also played out on social media.
