Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has become the face of the movement opposing transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
As a result, she’s become a lightning rod for criticism from those on the other side of the debate. Some of those critics are specifically targeting Gaines with messages to argue their case and belittle her.
A journalism professor tried that tact this week, and Gaines was ready with a swift response on Twitter.
The bizarre scenario began when University of British Columbia journalism professor Dr. Katja Thieme retweeted a video of Gaines explaining the problems women swimmers faced competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Thieme, whose Twitter account is protected, then criticized Gaines at length. According to the UK’s DailyMail, the professor then wrote, “Hey, want to know one of my all time excellent parenting ideas? ‘Let. Little. Children. See. [Genitals]. And. [Genitals]. Of. Various. Ages. And. Sizes. In. A. Casual. Normalized. Totally. Safe. Way.”
Gaines did not let the personal attack on her — or the controversial comments — pass, firing back in the same style.
“You. Are. Deranged. And. Should. Be. In. Prison,” Gaines wrote.
“I’d tag you, but, naturally, you made your account private.
“If you need a guest lecturer for your course, let me know. In the meantime, someone should check her search history.”
You. Are. Deranged. And. Should. Be. In. Prison.
I'd tag you, but, naturally, you made your account private.
If you need a guest lecturer for you course, let me know. In the meantime, someone should check her search history. https://t.co/TJFkEEh07Z
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 3, 2023
Before she became the face of a movement, Gaines competed for the University of Kentucky, where she was the 2022 Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming/Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
