Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines slams transgender golfer Hailey Davidson's bid to join the LPGA, accusing her of "deeply misogynistic" comments that undermine the integrity of women's sports.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has launched a scathing attack on transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, who is on the verge of joining the LPGA, accusing her of "deeply misogynistic" comments and undermining the integrity of women's sports.
Gaines, who competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the NCAA, expressed her outrage over Davidson's recent comments in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. Davidson had dismissed concerns about transgender athletes competing in women's sports as a "massive lie" and insisted that she deserved to be treated like any other female athlete.
Riley Gaines Takes On Transgender Golfer in Heated Debate Over LPGA Membership
"This is not just about me," Gaines said. "It's about every female athlete who has ever competed or dreamed of competing in women's sports."
Gaines argued that Davidson's comments were a direct attack on the hard-fought gains made by women in athletics, and she vowed to fight for the preservation of Title IX, which protects against discrimination in education and athletics based on sex.
Riley Gaines Takes On Transgender Golfer in Heated Debate Over LPGA Membership
"The Biden-Harris administration is trying to rewrite Title IX to allow biological men to compete in women's sports," Gaines said. "We cannot let that happen. Women's sports will be destroyed if we do."
Gaines's comments come amid a national debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. Several states, including Idaho, have passed laws to restrict transgender individuals from competing in girls and women's sports, while the Biden-Harris administration has argued that Title IX protections should be extended to transgender athletes.
Riley Gaines Takes On Transgender Golfer in Heated Debate Over LPGA Membership
Idaho Governor Brad Little, who signed the Defending Women's Sports Act into law, said he would not rule out requiring gender eligibility tests for student-athletes who want to compete in girls or women's sports. However, he added that he would need more evidence before making a decision.
The debate over transgender athletes in sports has also extended to the international level. The International Boxing Association (IBF) recently disqualified two women boxers for failing to meet gender eligibility requirements based on tests that measure hormone levels and chromosomes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the boxers, arguing that they complied with all applicable regulations.
Riley Gaines Takes On Transgender Golfer in Heated Debate Over LPGA Membership
Gaines said she was inspired by the case of boxer Imane Khelif, who filed a lawsuit in France after being disqualified from the world championships for failing a gender eligibility test. Gaines argued that Khelif's case highlighted the unfair advantage that transgender athletes have over cisgender women.
"If we allow biological men to compete in women's sports," Gaines said, "we are essentially saying that women are not capable of competing on a level playing field."
Gaines's comments have sparked outrage among some transgender rights activists, who accuse her of promoting discrimination and fear-mongering. However, Gaines has defended her stance, arguing that she is simply fighting for the rights of women and girls to compete in fair and equitable sports.
"I will not be silenced," Gaines said. "I will continue to speak out until we have a level playing field for all athletes."
