Riley Gaines Reacts To Lia Thomas Losing Challenge To Compete In Women’s Olympic

Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines reacted to the news that trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas lost his challenge to compete in the Olympics in women’s swimming events.

In a post on Wednesday on X, Gaines reposted a Yahoo Sports headline that read, “Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas loses legal challenge in CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport] ruling.” 

” The CAS panel found that ‘for the time being’ she is not eligible to compete in elite competitions through World Aquatics or USA Swimming, so the policy does not apply to her,” the outlet reported.

“[Thomas] is currently only entitled to compete in USA Swimming events that do not qualify as ‘Elite Events,'” according to the arbitral award.

Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition,” Gaines wrote to her one million followers. 

“He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling,” she added, calling it a “victory for women and girls everywhere.”

The post has since gone viral with more than 1.3 million views at the time of this publication.

Gaines later called on the NCAA to “strip him [Thomas]of every award, title, and record he stole from a deserving female athlete.”

Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition.

He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.

This is a victory for women and girls everywherehttps://t.co/fEZc47K0FA

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 12, 2024

The former swimmer wasn’t the only one reacting to the news, with many taking to social media to celebrate the decision.

“Common sense for the win,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Do I agree with biology? Yes, yes I do.”

In a statement about the decision, World Aquatics called it “a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport.”

“World Aquatics is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders and we reaffirm this pledge,” the statement said. “Our policies and practices are continuously evaluated to ensure they align with these core values, which led to the introduction of our open category.”

“We remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to uphold the principles of inclusivity in aquatic sports and remain confident that our gender inclusion policy represents a fair approach,” the statement concluded.

Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, has become a vocal advocate for women’s rights in sports and has faced backlash for speaking out against biological males competing against females.

The former swimmer made headlines when she talked about how unfair it was having to swim against Thomas in 2022 and how uncomfortable it was changing in the locker room with Thomas.

Hot Dog Legend Joey Chestnut Signs With Vegan Brand, Gets Booted From July 4th Competition

Hot Dog eating legend Joey Chestnut signed with a vegan weiner brand and now he’s out of the annual July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition he wins every year.

California-born Chestnut, who recently signed up with a brand called Impossible Foods, won’t be allowed to compete in the Coney Island tradition and defend the title he’s won 16 times, including every year since 2016, the New York Post reported.

The food champ has completely dominated the competition earning a world record in 2021 with 76 dogs and buns and last year keeping the crown after chomping down on 62 wieners and buns.

The July 4th Nathan’s competition has taken place every year at the corner of Stillwell and Surf avenues, just steps away from the Boardwalk, since 1916.

A representative for Major League Eating (MLE), which runs the event for Nathan’s told the outlet that “the organizers bent over backwards to meet Chestnut’s various other demands,” but had to draw a line when he became the face of a different hot dog brand, with beef wieners it says are made by plants.

“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” a statement from MLE read.

“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths in recent months to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,” the statement added.

“For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship,” the statement continued.

Major League Eating addresses Joey Chestnut’s choice to represent a rival brand, expressing disappointment and hope for his return to Nathan’s Famous. pic.twitter.com/NrbK4aRUc8

— Major League Eating (@eatingcontest) June 11, 2024

MLE closed out its statement by labeling Chestnut “an American hero.”

“We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest,” the company said. “We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.”

One source told the outlet that the hot dog-eating champ was paid $200,000 to appear in the contest last year, and was offered a four-year contract for $1.2 million going forward.  

“The two sides could still come to a resolution before July 4, but it depends on Joey,” an insider said.

“He’s the Michael Jordan of competitive eating,” the source added. “But imagine if Michael Jordan said to Nike, ‘I love being the face of Nike but I want to do commercials for Adidas too.”

Chestnut took to social media and disputed some of the claims for why he’s out this year. He wrote on X,  “I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event.”

Related: Nathan’s Bans Joey Chestnut Over Vegan Demands

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