Riley Gaines has caught the attention of both media and sports enthusiasts as she raised her voice in support of Save Women’s Sport. She shared a significant moment during the 2022 NCAA Swim Championship.
Gaines, a competitive swimmer at the University of Kentucky, spoke out after competing against Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, in the NCAA Championships. Gaines advocates for the preservation of single-gender sports.
Thomas, previously known as Will Thomas while swimming for the University of Pennsylvania Men’s Swim Team, made headlines for breaking records and the impact left on female swimmers. Thomas later transitioned to the Women’s Team as Lia in the previous semester.
Furthermore, Gaines is slated to be a speaker alongside other female athletes, including Tulsi Gabbard, Cynthia Monteleone, Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, and Taylor Silverman, at a conference taking place in Washington D.C. on Thursday, as reported by the Independent Women’s Network.
Meet Riley Gaines’ parents, Brad Gaines and Telisha Gaines. Brad Gaines, a former Vanderbilt football player, is the father of the multiple times SEC champion Riley. Telisha, her mother, was a softball player at Austin Peay.
Both of Riley’s parents have a background in athletics, with her father excelling in football at Vanderbilt and her mother playing softball at Austin Peay. While there is limited information about them online, Riley’s fans may get to know more about her family.
Despite being active on virtual platforms, Riley has not extensively shared details about her parents and personal life. However, glimpses of her travels are visible, and she consistently shares pictures documenting her professional swimming career.
Is Riley Gaines originally from Kentucky? Despite attending the University of Kentucky, Riley is actually from the neighboring state of Tennessee. According to her profile, she hails from Gallatin and attended Station Camp High School for her high school education.
Even though she proudly wears the Kentucky colors and represents her university, Riley has acknowledged her hometown on her online platforms. It appears that the young swimmer currently resides in Nashville.
Additionally, she seems to cherish her time in her hometown but expresses a desire to travel and explore different states and places with her friends and partner.
Details About Riley Gaines’ Family
Within Riley’s family, she is not the only child. She has three siblings—Taylor, Bradford, and Neely. Although she has two sisters and a brother, their birth order, whether she is the oldest or youngest, remains unknown.
While there may be more relatives, Riley has not introduced them to the media. Furthermore, the athlete is married to her boyfriend, Louis Barker, who also appears to be a swimmer. It is likely that this charming couple crossed paths during their sports careers and began dating.
Recently married, they might be planning to start their own family. According to Gaines, Louis is of British origin. Additionally, she has incorporated her spouse’s family name into her online persona, and she is now known as Riley Gaines Barker.
Instagram account.