Riley Gaines has led the celebrations on social media after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost her legal battle to compete in women’s events at the Olympics.
Thomas had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a ban on biological males competing against females in a bid to race at this summer’s Games in Paris.
After World Aquatics changed its policy so that transgender women can only compete in women’s races if they complete their transition at age 12, the 25-year-old argued those rules should be declared “invalid and illegal.”
However, a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on Wednesday concluded Thomas was not “entitled to participate in WA competitions”, banning her from women’s Olympic events.
The ruling was widely praised on social media, with former University of Kentucky swimmer Gaines calling it “a victory for women and girls everywhere.”
Riley Gaines (right) led the celebrations on social media after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas (left) lost her legal battle to compete in women’s events at the Olympics
A ruling concluded that Thomas, pictured alongside Gaines in 2022, will not be allowed to compete in women’s swimming events ahead of this summer’s Games in Paris
Gaines, who competed against Thomas in 2022, wrote on X: “Great news! Lia Thomas will not be able to compete in the women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition. He has just lost his legal battle in the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“This is a victory for women and girls everywhere.”
Sports fans also took to social media to praise the ruling banning Thomas from women’s swimming events.
One said: ‘About time! This wasn’t just cheating: this was STEALING! Shame on this person!’
Another said: ‘100% agree. Women deserve a level playing field for completion so that it is fair. Men in women’s sports are not fair to women.’
A third posted: ‘Fantastic! For a change, common sense prevails!’
While one concluded: ‘Should have happened a long time ago’.
Thomas first came to prominence after becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA college title in 2022.
Gaines called the Thomas ruling “a victory for women and girls everywhere.”
Fans also took to social media to praise the decision to ban Thomas from competing in the competition
However, World Aquatics introduced their new rules after Thomas defeated Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant by 1.75 seconds to win NCAA gold.
In a scientific paper supporting their ban on those who have ‘undergone any part of male puberty’, WA said swimmers like Thomas retained physical advantages.
They said such benefits included endurance, strength, speed, power and lung size, even after their testosterone levels were lowered by medication.
On Wednesday, the court ruled that Thomas had no standing to challenge the transgender policy.
