Riley Gaines, the former NCAA swimmer who has become one of the most outspoken defenders of women’s sports, reportedly announced the birth of her first child Thursday night. Gaines, 24, and her husband Louis Barker welcomed a daughter named Margot, sharing the news with a heartfelt message to her followers.
“There’s nothing that could’ve prepared me for a love like this,” Gaines wrote in a caption alongside a photo of her family. “God has blessed us beyond belief. Welcome to the world, sweet Margot.”
The announcement marks a new chapter for Gaines, whose athletic career and public advocacy have made her a central figure in a growing debate over fairness in women’s sports.
Even during her pregnancy, Gaines remained committed to the discipline and resilience that defined her swimming career. In July, at 31 weeks pregnant, she swam 1.25 miles in open water near Alcatraz Island.
The endurance feat, completed alongside Navy SEALs, combat veterans, and her husband, drew widespread praise and underscored her reputation for toughness.
She had first announced her pregnancy in June during a Turning Point USA event in Texas, a fitting venue for a woman who has tied her personal life to her broader advocacy for conservative values and traditional institutions.
Gaines, now the host of OutKick’s Gaines for Girls, first came to national attention after competing against Lia Thomas, a biological male competing in the women’s division, at the 2022 NCAA championships.
That race spurred her activism. Since then, she has argued that preserving female competition requires barring biological men from women’s sports.
Her stance has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles accused Gaines of “bullying” transgender athletes and dismissed her as a “sore loser.” Gaines defended herself, saying her advocacy is not about exclusion but about ensuring fairness. “Protecting women’s sports is about fairness and not exclusion,” she has said repeatedly.
The Biden-era Department of Education resisted calls to intervene, but President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a different path.
In February, Trump ordered the Department of Education to direct both the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations to revoke women’s titles and records held by male-born athletes like Thomas.
The executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s categories at both the high school and collegiate levels represented one of the most sweeping federal actions in recent years. Following the order, the NCAA revised its policy to comply with the restrictions.
For Gaines, the developments have validated her advocacy and raised her profile as a voice for women’s sports in the cultural battles over gender and fairness.
Now, as she celebrates the arrival of her daughter, Gaines’ public and private lives intersect in ways that underscore the broader themes she has embraced: resilience, tradition, and a commitment to protecting opportunities for women and girls.
Her message on Thursday night captured both the deeply personal joy of motherhood and the faith that continues to guide her. “God has blessed us beyond belief,” she wrote, as supporters across the country welcomed baby Margot along with her.
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