Ex-Kentucky swimmer felt 'discomfort' changing alongside transgender athlete Lia Thomas

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A University of Kentucky swimmer who once competed against transgender athlete Lia Thomas says she felt “extreme discomfort” changing next to her because of her “different parts.”

Appearing on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Today, ex-Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines had blamed swimming event organizers for not telling competitors that Thomas would be utilizing the women’s change room.

“That’s not something we were forewarned about, which I don’t think is right in any means, changing in a locker room with someone who has different parts,” said Gaines, as reported by the Daily Mail. “So not only were we forced to race against a male, we were forced to change in the locker room with one.”

Gaines told host Tucker Carlson that she was “sitting there not even knowing who to talk to, who to complain to, because this kind of all happened behind the scenes and very discreetly.”

This past March, Gaines tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200m freestyle at the NCAA championship.

Gaines has become outspoken against Thomas’ competing against biologically-born females, believing she has an advantage over women. Most recently, she said the NCAA Woman of the Year award was “worthless” after Thomas was nominated for the distinction.

Gaines told Carlson since becoming outspoken about Thomas, she has “received so much support, like it’s insane.”

“Which tells me who the majority is, what the general population thinks even if you’re not an athlete, if you’re not a female. It’s like we said – common sense,” she added.

Gaines told Carlson she first learned of Thomas in November 2021 and how the University of Pennsylvania swimmer set a “very, very fast time” at a swim meet. Then she learned Thomas had competed in the NCAA’s men’s division the previous three years.

Upon learning Thomas would be competing with other females at the NCAA national championship, Gaines said her mind was blown.

“I think people forget that women’s sports were a protected group,” said Gaines. “The category was made because the playing field was not level by any means when you have them competing against men.”

In a previous interview with Carlson, Gaines said she spoke for a large majority of female athletes who didn’t think competing with a transgender athletes was fair.

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“We’re dealing with something that’s completely out of our control when we’re racing, biological males whether they have different lung capacities, their height, testosterone levels whether they’ve used testosterone blockers are not,” said Gaines. “It doesn’t suppress going through puberty as a male. Especially Lia, who swam for three years as a male. It’s completely unfair and it’s a matter of equity really.”