Who is Riley Gaines? Check out Her Biography
by Alaguvelan M
Updated May 05, 2023
Who is Riley Gaines?
Riley Gaines, hailing from Gallatin, Tennessee, is a swimmer representing the University of Kentucky's NCAA swim team. She achieved the title of the Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022.
During her high school years, Riley Gaines attended Station Camp High School located in Gallatin, Tennessee. Her parents, Brad Gaines and Telisha Gaines were both involved in sports as her father played football at Vanderbilt University and her mother played softball at Donelson Christian Academy and Austin Peay. In 2017, as a junior in high school, Gaines emerged as a winner in the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle at the TISCA High School Swim & Dive Championship held in Knoxville.
Gaines actively opposes the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports and has been lobbying her state representatives to pass a law that would prevent transgender individuals from participating in women's sports. She has taken part in a small protest at the NCAA Convention in January 2023, appeared in campaign ads for Herschel Walker, a former US Senate candidate, and spoke at a Donald Trump rally as part of her campaign. Gaines also appeared in a TV ad supporting the campaign of US Senator Rand Paul, where she shared her concerns about transgender women in women's sports.
In April 2023, Gaines spoke at a Turning Point USA student chapter event at San Francisco State University, where she publicly discussed her campaign against transgender athletes in women's sports. After the event, protesters arrived and Gaines was escorted by law enforcement officers to a classroom for safety. She reported that she had been physically struck twice by a protester during the protest.
Riley Gaines Husband
Riley Gaines' husband is Louis Barker. Gaines is a retired professional swimmer from the United States who is known for her 12 All-American titles and success in international competitions like the Pan American Games. Her husband, Louis Barker, is not as well-known, and little is publicly known about his background or profession. However, he has been featured in news reports as part of Gaines' story and has defended her in interviews after she was attacked by trans activists at San Francisco State University in April 2023.
He has been a strong supporter of her throughout her swimming career and beyond. In addition to defending her after she was attacked by trans activists, he has also been actively involved in promoting her accomplishments and raising awareness about women's sports issues. In an interview following the attack, Barker spoke out against the violence and intolerance shown towards Gaines and expressed his frustration with the lack of support from university officials.
He has also been a vocal critic of policies surrounding transgender athletes and the impact these can have on fair competition in sports. Gaines and Barker have been married for a few years and appear to have a close and supportive relationship. They have been seen attending events together, sharing photos on their social media accounts, and appearing in interviews together where they speak about their shared commitment to promoting women's athletics. Barker seems to be a strong and positive presence in Gaines' life, offering support both in her personal and professional endeavors.
Riley Gaines Education
During her time at the University of Kentucky, Gaines excelled as a swimmer and was recognized for her achievements. In 2019, she was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and later went on to make the All-SEC Second Team in both 2019 and 2020. Gaines competed in the 2021 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where she earned a second-place finish in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay and a seventh-place finish in the 200m freestyle race.
Her impressive performance resulted in her being named to the All-SEC First Team that same year. In 2022, Gaines competed in the NCAA freestyle championship and finished fifth, tying with Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania, who made history as the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA championship in the women's division.
Gaines comes from a family with a sports background. Her father, Brad Gaines, played football at Vanderbilt University, while her mother, Telisha Gaines, played softball at Donelson Christian Academy and Austin Peay. She went to Station Camp High School located in Gallatin, Tennessee. In 2017, as a junior, Gaines won the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle at the TISCA High School Swim & Dive Championship held in Knoxville.
Riley Gaines Job
Riley is well-known for her successful career as a competitive swimmer at both the collegiate and international levels. She has won numerous awards and honors for her achievements in swimming, including being the 2022 SEC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earning 12 All-American titles.
Additionally, Gaines has been active in political activism related to women's sports, specifically advocating for fair competition in athletics and speaking out against policies surrounding transgender athletes. While it is unclear whether Gaines currently holds a job outside of her involvement in athletics and activism, her career highlights and advocacy efforts have earned her a significant amount of attention and respect within the sports community and beyond.
Riley Gaines Swimmer
Riley Gaines is a former competitive swimmer from Gallatin, Tennessee, who is known for her success in collegiate and international swimming competitions. She competed for the University of Kentucky NCAA swim team and earned 12 All-American titles during her career. Gaines has been outspoken about women's sports issues and has been involved in political activism related to promoting fair competition in athletics.
She has also been an advocate for traditional ideas about gender in sports and has spoken out against policies surrounding transgender athletes. Gaines gained national attention in 2023 after she was physically attacked and assaulted by trans activists at a speaking engagement at San Francisco State University. Gaines has since continued to be an active advocate for women's sports and has worked to raise awareness about the challenges facing female athletes in today's sporting landscape.
Riley Gaines Biography
Name
Riley Gaines
Birth Place
Gallatin, Tennessee
Native
American
Spouse
Louis Barker
Profession
American Swimmer
Sport
Swimming
Specification
Details
Who is Riley Gaines - FAQs
Riley Gaines is a former competitive swimmer from Gallatin, Tennessee who has gained national attention for her advocacy for women's sports issues.
Riley Gaines has been an advocate for fair competition in athletics, specifically speaking out against policies regarding transgender athletes that she believes are unfair to biologically female athletes.
Yes, Riley Gaines has won 12 All-American titles during her collegiate swimming career at the University of Kentucky.
Riley Gaines has played a significant role in raising public awareness about the challenges facing female athletes in the context of current debates around transgender athletes and promoting fair opportunities for biologically female athletes to compete in sports.
Riley Gaines was physically attacked and assaulted by trans activists during the speaking engagement.