Joe Rogan is no stranger to platforming some of the most interesting and controversial voices on his podcast, and his episode with Riley Gaines is no different.
Gaines tells Rogan about her experiences sharing swim competitions with two trans identifying individuals — one a biological woman and one a biological man.
“We were told we fully had to treat this person as a woman, right?” Gaines says of trans woman Lia Thomas. “The same national championships we had another athlete who was transitioning, but this athlete is a female who was then self-identifying as a man from Yale.”
“Top eight women in the entire country, and you’ve got a 6’4” man in a women’s swimsuit with the bulge next to a woman wearing only a Speedo with nothing covering her top,” Gaines adds.
“I’m sitting there watching this, I’m thinking to myself, ‘It’s me, I’m the crazy one, it must be. This is the freaking Twilight Zone,’” she says.
Gaines then shares the story that forced her to be honest about how she felt with Thomas on her team.
Thomas swam the 500 freestyle, won a national title, and beat out American Olympic record holders by “body lengths,” Gaines explains.
“Even the time he went last year would have beat every girl in the country this past season by nearly two full seconds, making him the first man to win a division one NCAA women’s title,” she says, jokingly calling him a “trailblazer.”
However, Gaines was able to tie Thomas in the 200 freestyle — but because they only had one trophy, they gave it to Thomas instead of her.
“I asked the question that no one dared ask all season, and I said, ‘Why?’” Gaines recalls. “He realized that he didn’t have a justification, he didn’t have an answer for this, and so I actually appreciate his honesty.”
“His face changed, he looked sad, his voice changed. I could tell he didn’t even believe what he was about to say, but this official looked at me and said, ‘Riley, I am so sorry, but we have been advised as an organization that when photos are being taken, it’s crucial that the trophy is in Lia’s hands,’” she explains.
Dave Rubin is impressed with Rogan’s strong guest.
“Little-known podcaster Joe Rogan, well, I think this guy is going to make it,” he comments.
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