Riley Gaines, former NCAA swimmer and woman’s sports activist, fired back this week at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (DNY), after the progressive legislator mocked Gaines athletic career. The back-and forth began with Gaines criticisms of Democratic Party policies.
Gaines began the conflict by posting a picture of Ocasio-Cortez at a New York City rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT), and New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mahdani. The caption was “We are being destroyed from inside.”
Ocasio Cortez replied on X by sneeringly mocking Gaines athletic record. “Maybe if all of this anger was channeled into swimming faster, you wouldn’t be fifth.”
If you had channeled your anger to swimming faster, you might not have finished fifth. https://t.co/gkiEyZ8JGX
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez October 27, 2025
Gaines was referring to the performance of transgender Lia Thomas, who tied with Gaines for 5th place in 2022 NCAA Women’s Championships. Thomas competed previously in the men’s division and ranked as low as 462nd. She then transitioned to become a woman, winning the 500-yard-freestyle championship. This event sparked a national debate about fairness for women’s sports.
Gaines has been a vocal opponent of biological men competing in women’s sports for years. She wasted no time in retaliating. Gaines responded: “It is always funny when people think that they have a gotcha by saying I am the fifth-fastest female in the country, but conveniently forget about the 462nd men’s division mediocre male.” Then she added “Misogynistic Dunce.”
It didn’t end there. Gaines made an open challenge during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle.
WATCH:
Gaines stated, “I would like to challenge AOC in a debate.” She can defend socialist. I’ll defend capitalism. She could defend the removal of God. I’ll defend the biblical worldview. She could defend the child sacrifice. “I will defend life and the sacredness of it.”
“I will argue the contrary to any of their radical, sane and democratic platforms and policies. Gaines continued, “I’m going to challenge AOC here.”
Ocasio Cortez did not accept the insult but instead doubled it up with another one, saying, “I would challenge this person, to find a job.”
Gaines had one last sharp counterpunch to X. She wrote, “This comes from someone whose party has shut down government, leaving you… technically… jobless.” Then she added, “I’m going to take it as a “no” (which I would expect when your views are so indefensible).
Gaines is the host of OutKick’s Gaines for Girls Podcast. She has used her swimming career to become a platform for women’s sport. She is adored online for her unapologetic style and the way she can go toe to toe with progressives of high profile like Ocasio Cortez. Since then, the fiery exchange on social media has been viewed millions of times.
