ACTIVIST Riley Gaines has hailed “a huge win” in her first public interview since a U-turn over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Gaines, 25, is a former college swimmer campaigning against trans athletes being able to compete in women’s sports.
Riley Gaines is delighted after a landmark agreement was announced this week[/caption]
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was stripped of her UPenn titles and records[/caption]
A landmark agreement was announced by the US Department of Education this week.
The University of Pennsylvania will be forced to strip Thomas of her college titles and school records.
An official Government release said that UPenn is being investigated for possibly violating Title IX.
They are accused of allowing a male to compete in a female sport and occupy a female changing room.
The college has also agreed to apologize for allowing Thomas to compete, according to the release.
Thomas, 26, won the US national college title in 2022 and shattered school records.
OutKick host Gaines revealed her delight at the decision in an interview with TMZ.
She said, “This has been my mission these past three years to get any sort of accountability, responsibility, and I think more so transparency.
“I am ecstatic. I’m over the moon. I am so excited.
“I’m a bit cynical, truthfully, as I don’t believe that the University of Pennsylvania necessarily approaches this conversation in good faith.
“This was never something they was willing to do.
“Granted, they have $175 million hanging over their head that they would lose out on it if they weren’t willing to do this.
“So maybe that amount of money can make anyone grow a spine.”
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised President Donald Trump’s leadership for the action.
“Today’s resolution agreement with UPenn is yet another example of the Trump effect in action.
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the University for future generations of female athletes.
“Today is a great victory for women and girls not only at the University of Pennsylvania, but all across our nation.
“The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law.”
Gaines recently had a social media feud with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles over the topic.
She was also quoted in the press release from the Department of Education.
She said, “From day one, President Trump and Secretary McMahon vowed to protect women and girls, and today’s agreement with UPenn is a historic display of that promise being fulfilled.
“This Administration does not just pay lip service to women’s equality: it vigorously insists on that equality being upheld.
“It is my hope that today demonstrates to educational institutions that they will no longer be allowed to trample upon women’s civil rights, and renews hope in every female athlete that their country’s highest leadership will not relent until they have the dignity, safety, and fairness they deserve.”
