Riley Gaines challenges ex-ESPN host to race after he says she was a 'worse swimmer' than she is 'MAGA stooge'

FIRST ON FOX: Riley Gaines clapped back astatine erstwhile ESPN and MSNBC big Keith Olbermann with an authoritative situation for foundation connected Wednesday aft helium said Gaines "was, somehow, a worse swimmer than she is simply a MAGA stooge."

Olbermann, the ex-host of some MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and ESPN's SportsCenter, quoted an X station of Education Secretary Linda McMahon telling Fox News’ America Reports that Gaines "would person intelligibly won" her contention if Gaines didn’t person to vie against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

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"[Riley Gaines] finished 85th successful the Olympic Trials," Olbermann posted to X. "She finished tied for 5th successful the lone contention including a transgendered athlete. If determination had been nary she MIGHT person finished tied for 4th, oregon had 5th spot to herself."

President Donald Trump acknowledges erstwhile Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines earlier signing the No Men successful Women's Sports Executive Order into instrumentality successful the East Room of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected February 5, 2025. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

The 12-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American responded connected X, noting she "placed 85th astatine Olympic trials erstwhile I was 15/16." 

"I was 1 of the youngest there," Gaines explained. "And I placed 5th *in the nation* successful a athletics measured successful .01s of a 2nd without going a best. Would you accidental the 5th champion assemblage shot subordinate is objectively atrocious astatine their sport?"

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The "Gaines for Girls" podcast big told Fox News Digital she is present officially challenging Keith Olbermann to a contention for charity. The lawsuit would beryllium a 200-yard freestyle astatine a determination of Olbermann’s prime sometime earlier August 31 of this year. 

The victor of the contention volition prime which charitable enactment the proceeds would spell to and the full wager to beryllium donated would beryllium acceptable if Olbermann agrees. The 25-year-old University of Kentucky alumnus told Fox that Olbermann "could bash a 150" gait freestyle, portion she inactive swims 200 yards, if it incentivized him to vie successful the charitable challenge.

A spokesperson for Olbermann did not respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment. 

The event, should it happen, would beryllium a 200-yard freestyle contest. (Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

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While Gaines and Olbermann sparred connected X, President Donald Trump blasted California governor Gavin Newsom earlier this week arsenic the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) cleared the mode for a transgender jock to vie successful a women's authorities title way conscionable this upcoming weekend.

"California, nether the enactment of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY let "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.;" Trump posted to Truth Social. "This week a transitioned Male athlete, astatine a large event, won "everything," and is present qualified to vie successful the "State Finals" adjacent weekend."

President Trump signed an Executive Order connected Feb 5th successful an effort to outright prohibition men from competing successful women’s sports. Trump went connected to explicate that if the Golden State did not comply with this enforcement order, national backing could beryllium revoked. 

Trump signed an enforcement bid successful February attempting to prohibition each men from women's sports. (AP Newsroom)

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"THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," the president continued successful his post. "Please beryllium hereby advised that ample standard Federal Funding volition beryllium held back, possibly permanently, if the Executive Order connected this taxable substance is not adhered to."

Newsom’s bureau released a connection supporting the transgender athlete's information successful the upcoming authorities championship.

Preston Mizell is simply a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips tin beryllium sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and connected X @MizellPreston