On Friday, swimming star Riley Gaines called out two transgender girls who had qualified for the state finals but didn’t show up, noting mischievously: “Are they aware that they clearly have an unfair advantage? “
Gaines, a college swimmer, has become an activist against trans people in sports since competing against Lia Thomas.
The NCAA champion argues that having trans people in school sports discourages others from competing.
Gaines referenced a controversy in California on Friday, where Athena Ryan, who transitioned from male to female and had raced on the men’s team until 2021, finished second in the weekend’s 1,600m race last.
Ryan’s performance in Dublin saw her advance to the national final at the expense of contender Adeline Johnson, who finished fourth and was later seen giving the thumbs up during the podium presentation.
Athena Ryan did not participate in the preliminary race before the national final, amid controversy over her participation
Ryan finished second in the race last Saturday ahead of Adeline Johnson who finished fourth and was seen giving a thumbs down on the podium
A second trans athlete, Lorelei Barrett, also qualified for the 1600m national final.
Ryan and Barrett declined to participate in the preliminary round on Friday.
Gaines tweeted: “The two boys (Athena Ryan and Lorelei Barrett) who qualified for the California High School Women’s Track and Field Championships did not make the preliminaries today.
“Did they realize they clearly had an unfair advantage? Or is that too optimistic?
Barrett qualified in the fall, but Ryan didn’t reach the final until last weekend, causing an uproar among competitors and parents.
In the aftermath of the race, Ryan bragged about his rapid progress, gaining plenty of time on his best performances.
Ryan went from sixth place in her last 1,600 meter race to second in front of a group of high school girls.
‘I did not expect that. I lost about 17 seconds on my season best in the last two weeks,’ Ryan told MileSplit after the race.
“After last weekend I didn’t think I could race again with low 5s. I was just coming here to try and break 5 – glad I finished it.
But her second-place podium meant the 18-year-old Johnson missed out on a spot in the state final.
Riley Gaines, seen on April 19 lobbying against a trans sports bill in North Carolina, slammed Ryan and Barrett for competing in the 1,600m track race
Second-place finish for Ryan (right) pushed Johnson (left) out of contention for the women’s state title
The Branson School senior didn’t seem impressed with losing her chance to make it to the state finals – and had improved after coming back from a hip fracture in two places in the summer of 2022.
Johnson was seen waving to people in the crowd before giving a thumbs up during the medal presentation in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday.
The video of Johnson giving the thumbs down was posted on social media by the Independent Women’s Sports Council.
According to their Twitter bio, the group is a “network of female athletes and our supporters who champion women’s protected categories in sport.”
AAnother group that calls itself “Women Are Real” on social media also showed up at the meeting to voice their opposition.
Several protesters were seen on the track holding banners that read ‘protect women’s sports’ as Ryan crossed the line – only to have a participant shout at them before security escorted them off the premises.
Gaines (right) faced Lia Thomas (left) in March 2022, at the NCAA swimming championship – an experience that spurred her activism
‘I did not expect that. I lost about 17 seconds on my season best in the last two weeks,’ Ryan told MileSplit after the race.
The parents told DailyMail.com they were ‘too terrified’ to speak out for fear their children would be disqualified.
The California Interscholastic Federation follows the “gender identity participation” rules first implemented in 2013.
This means that any transgender student can participate in sports and activities that are “consistent with their gender identity”.
The guide adds: “Athletes will participate in programs that are consistent with their gender identity or the most consistently expressed gender.”
Once a student has achieved race eligibility as a gender identity, it does not need to be renewed each school year.
The state became the first in the country to allow transgender children across America access to hormones and puberty blockers, as well as treatments widely available throughout the Golden State.
The legislation also protects families from child abuse investigations or criminal prosecution for seeking gender-affirming care.
Both students and guardians must sign the code of conduct if they want to run, with many having specific guidelines against “hate speech” or “bullying” based on gender.
If they are accused of breach of contract, they risk being disqualified or disciplined by the school, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), or the North Shore Chapter board.
Transgender runner Athena Ryan from California is shown in a California MileSplit interview published November 19, 2022
Protesters met and held banners to express their opposition to trans people being allowed to participate in women’s events
A woman at the Dublin, California meet took offense to protesters who had signs saying ‘Protect women’s sports’
A relative, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of a backlash, told DailyMail.com: ‘We have all been told we are unprotected. As a family, everything we say falls under the student code of conduct.
“If we don’t follow the guidelines, it’s considered bullying. They can’t save our girls from being disqualified, so I understand why no one wants to talk.
“We knew there was potential for it all year, for them to race against a boy. He came out fifth in the final 100 meters and finished second – which is physically impossible for a girl to do. ‘
In March, World Athletics banned trans athletes from competing in women’s events at the international level, and the NCAA is in the process of introducing new rules which will see trans athletes adhere to much stricter regulations and undergo regular testing to ensure their eligibility.
This has led many social media users to call on female athletes to boycott events in which trans athletes take to the field, with many pointing out that biological female athletes could lose scholarships and the opportunity to compete in major events due to the unfair advantages they enjoy. by trans athletes competing with women.
Last Saturday, angry protesters held up a banner that read “Protect Women’s Sports” and a video posted to the Women Are Real Twitter account showed an altercation involving a spectator who challenged the banner.
“That’s f**kng disgusting,” the woman said. “I find this fucking king offensive.”
Another video shows security removing the group from the premises.
“They kick us out because we care about women and girls,” one protester said.
In Washington, DC, House Republicans in April passed a ban on transgender women and girls from competing in women’s athletic schools.
No Democrats joined their conservative counterparts in voting for the bill, which will not be taken up in the Senate.
Republicans say the problem is protecting women’s rights while Democrats say it opens a new salvo to attack trans kids who are already being bullied in schools.
“Anyone who claims to be a feminist or believe in what feminism was founded on should probably support us,” Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, said in a news conference at the time.
Those across the aisle vehemently disagreed with the Republicans.
“These kids are kids and should be able to play with their friends,” said Mark Pocan, a Democrat representing Wisconsin.
“It’s not about protecting women and girls, it’s about attacking trans kids.”
