Riley Gaines Barker is a former competitive swimmer and current conservative political activist.
She gained prominence for her advocacy of single-sex spaces for women and her opposition to the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports.
Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer from the University of Kentucky, became a vocal critic of sports organizations like the NCAA and IOC after tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships.
Currently, she is involved with several organizations, including Independent Women’s Voice and the America First Athletes Coalition.
Gaines also hosts the Gaines for Girls podcast, contributes to TPUSA, and directs the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, where she trains individuals to promote American principles.
Parents
Riley’s parents are Brad and Telisha Gaines.
Brad Gaines played football at Vanderbilt University, and Telisha Gaines played softball at Austin Peay State University.
Riley also has three siblings, sisters Taylor and Neely, and a brother named Bradford. Brad was the one who taught Riley how to swim when she was four years old.
Career
As a swimmer at the University of Kentucky, Gaines consistently excelled.
From her freshman year, she made a name for herself, earning a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team.
She continued to improve, earning All-SEC honors multiple times and showing her versatility in different events, with particular strengths in freestyle and butterfly.
Her senior year was a standout. She set records at the SEC Championships in the 200-yard butterfly and defended her title in the 200-yard freestyle.
Nationally, she consistently placed well in the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors throughout her college career.
A pivotal moment came when she tied for fifth place with Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships. This experience significantly shifted Gaines’ career path.
Following that event, she retired from competitive swimming and began advocating for what she believes is the protection of women’s sports.
Since then, Gaines has become a prominent voice in conservative circles, arguing against the inclusion of transgender women in female athletic competitions.
She has taken on various roles, including advisor at Independent Women’s Voice, vice chair of the America First Athletes Coalition, host of a podcast, and director of a center at the Leadership Institute.
Through these platforms, she actively campaigns and speaks out on issues related to gender, sports, and single-sex spaces, cementing her position as a political activist.
