Riley Gaines Sparks Debate with Advocacy for Women’s Sports Fairness

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA All-American swimmer and prominent advocate for women’s sports, has intensified national debate over fairness and inclusion in athletics with a series of high-profile actions and collaborations. Gaines recently celebrated the passage of the "Riley Gaines Act" in Georgia, legislation that bars biological males from competing in women’s sports at public schools and colleges. She also drew attention to a U.S. Department of Education ruling that found California in violation of Title IX for permitting males in girls’ sports, urging the restoration of records and public apologies for affected female athletes.

In conjunction with the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, Gaines unveiled the "Be Bold" capsule collection in partnership with XX-XY Athletics, a brand founded to defend the integrity of women’s sports. The collection, featuring patriotic red, white, and blue designs and slogans such as "Save Women’s Sports," aims to honor Title IX’s original intent and inspire athletes to stand up for fairness and biological reality in competition. Gaines emphasized that Title IX was created to protect women based on biological sex, not self-identified gender, arguing that redefining the law undermines opportunities for female athletes.

Gaines’ activism and her public responses to figures like gymnast Simone Biles have fueled ongoing discussions about the balance between equity and inclusion in sports. She maintains that her efforts, including the new apparel line, are meant to embolden others to voice their support for women’s sports and ensure that the next generation of female athletes has equal opportunities to compete and succeed.