Parents of Riley Gaines: Meet Brad and Telisha – Riley Gaines, a competitive swimmer at the University of Kentucky, recently came forward after dating Lia Thomas, her biological husband, at the NCAA Championships.
Gaines strongly believes that the integrity of single-sex sports must be preserved, and she is not alone in this opinion.
Benefits has been swimming since she was a child and by the age of 12, she was already participating in high-level competitions. She chose to attend the University of Kentucky because of its positive swimming culture, outstanding coaches and staff, and its proximity to home.
In November 2021, Gaines came across an article on Swim Swam that mentioned a swimmer who had an exceptionally fast time in the 200-meter freestyle. This time was considered a national record and Gaines was impressed by it. However, as she read more, she began to worry about the inclusion of male athletes in women’s competitions.
Gaines believes that allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports would jeopardize the integrity of women’s sports and make women more vulnerable. She’s not the only one with this belief, as many female athletes in the SEC and Ivy League share her concerns.
Although his position is controversial, Gaines has the full support of his school for speaking out on the issue. She emphasizes that her objection is not personal and is not addressed to a transgender person. Instead, she rejects sports association policies that allow male athletes to participate in women’s sports.
Overall, Gaines and other female athletes are committed to preserving the spirit of women’s sports and ensuring it remains fair and competitive.
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ToggleParents of Riley Gaines: Meet Brad and Telisha
Riley Gaines’ parents are Brad and Telisha Gaines. His mother played softball at Austin Peay and his father played football at Vanderbilt.
Gaines’ passion for sports may have been inspired by his parents’ sporting successes.
His father is a doctor and his mother is a registered nurse. Gaines grew up in a family that valued education, sports and community service.
Gaines has her parents to thank for supporting her in her athletic pursuits from a young age. They encouraged him to try different sports, but swimming quickly became his passion. Her parents were instrumental in helping her achieve her goals, including accompanying her to swimming meets and providing emotional and financial support.
Despite her demanding athletic schedule, Gaines also made her academic success a priority and her parents supported her in this endeavor as well. She said her parents taught her the importance of hard work, determination and perseverance – values that have served her well both in and out of the pool.
Who is Riley Gaines’ father?
Riley Gaines’ father is known as Brad Gaines.