'Peak Irony' - Riley Gaines lashes out at Megan Rapinoe for questioning efforts behind protecting women's sports

Riley Gaines recently reacted to former soccer player Megan Rapinoe's comments on the IOC ruling. Rapinoe allegedly lashed out at the International Olympic Committee for contemplating a future ban on the participation of trans athletes in women's sports.

In a podcast session on the 'A Touch More' podcast, the former Olympic champion soccer player questioned the motives behind the 'sudden urge' to protect women's sports. Rapinoe also slammed the IOC ruling for being 'vindictive' towards trans athletes.

Rapinoe mentioned in the podcast session that it was the same as she said,

"Are we really protecting women in sports, or are we doing this just thinly veiled, ‘Oh my god, we’re scared, and we have to protect women in sports?’ And it’s like, ‘We’re fine. We don’t even have any trans players in the NWSL.’ That was really, I felt, pretty disingenuous."

Riley Gaines reacted to Megan Rapinoe's comments by sharing her thoughts on her X account [formerly Twitter]. The swimmer-turned-social activist wrote,

"Megan Rapinoe questioning the motives behind protecting women’s sports is peak irony. The only reason she had a professional career at all is because she had a protected female category."

Riley Gaines previously took a jab at the trans athletes after the IOC ruling. She also dared Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to sue her, whose participation at the Paris Olympics attracted criticism due to the controversy around her gender identity.

Riley Gaines takes a swipe at Megan Rapinoe for backing trans athletes in women's sports

Riley Gaines reacts to Megan Rapinoe's support for trans athletes [Image Source : Getty]

Riley Gaines previously responded to Megan Rapinoe's public support for the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. Rapinoe had claimed in April 2024 that the NCAA would be doing a great disservice if it bars transgender players from women's sports. The former soccer player stated,

"The time is now for the NCAA and the nationwide athletic community to speak up and affirm that sports should be for everyone, including transgender athletes".

Riley Gaines responded to Rapinoe's claims as she wrote on her X account,

"Megan Rapinoe, in typical virtue-signaling fashion, is pulling up the ladder behind her. No one would know who Megan Rapinoe is it weren't for women's sports lol."

Riley Gaines has been campaigning for the exclusion of trans athletes in women's sports since 2022. She had campaigned against the bias shown by the NCAA towards transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who was later banned from participating further in women's sports.

Edited by Animesh Pandey