Photo Credit: LAPRESSE
Lia Thomas is a controversial figure in the sports world, going from being ranked 65th in the men's category to 1st in the female 500-yard freestyle, and in the 200-yard freestyle, Thomas went from 554th for men to 5th for women.
While trans activist groups have fought for Thomas' rights to compete among women in NCAA competitions, many have been against it.
While the trans competitor meets competition requirements, many feel there is no doubting that there is a physical advantage at play, given she has greater natural muscular mass than biological females.
Riley Gainestied Thomas in the NCAA championship and recently spoke to Bill Maher on his Club Randon podcast, where she shared the experience of having to change near Thomas.
Gaines discusses Thomas
"That was a situation I tried to refrain from looking at entirely," Gaines said. "We can't unsee it. Being in that space with a male, it's like a bad car wreck."
When Maher quizzed her on Thomas' genitalia, she answered: "I was trying to run away from this question. 6-foot-4 male. Use your imagination."
Gaines has become an activist in this area, claiming female athletes are being discriminated against due to biologically male athletes being able to compete in some female sports.
Though, it has been a bumpy ride for the former college athlete, with trans activists recently storming one of her public speeches.
Gaines recently said of World War 2 veterans: "That's the last time we had strong men.
"Think about this: 1940s, World War II. Men lied about their age to get in to enlist. Now, in 2023, we have men lying about their sex to get into women's sports or women's prisons or domestic shelters or sororities or bathrooms, locker rooms."
