Riley Gaines

Guest:

Riley Gaines is a former competitive swimmer and public advocate known for her stance on fairness in women’s athletics. A 12-time NCAA All-American and scholar-athlete at the University of Kentucky, she competed at the highest collegiate level in butterfly and freestyle events before graduating in 2022. Since then, she has become a prominent voice in the national discussion on the participation of biological males in women’s sports, arguing that female athletes deserve fair competition in categories based on biological sex.

Riley has engaged in public testimony before state legislatures, appeared on national media outlets, and hosted the podcasts Gaines for Girls and the Riley Gaines Show. Her faith is central to how she understands the human person and the moral questions facing society today. She has also been involved in founding the Riley Gaines Center, which advocates for female athletes and influences public policy on athletic fairness. Riley and her husband, Louis Barker, recently welcomed their first child.

On Faith and Reason, Riley Gaines has been featured on an episode of In-Person.