The executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” ensures that the next generation of female athletes has a fair opportunity to compete with the safety, privacy and equal opportunity they deserve.
I am grateful for President Donald Trump’s swift action in fulfilling his campaign promise to protect women’s sports. The clarity and decisiveness of this administration sends a strong message to women and girls across the country: We matter.
Women’s sports were created to celebrate and protect our unique physical attributes, allowing us to develop confidence, resilience, leadership and determination. Our category is separate from men’s – not because we are inferior, but because we are different. We have distinct physiological characteristics, such as lung capacity, height, limb proportions and heart size. These differences impact performance, especially in endurance sports where every breath counts.
President Donald Trump signs the No Men in Women’s Sports executive order in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 5, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Additionally, female athletes face different risks, such as higher susceptibility to stress fractures, ACL tears, and the female athlete triad, which can lead to low energy availability, irregular menstrual cycles, and weakened bones. These conditions put women at greater risk for injuries, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and prolonged recovery times.
In February 2025, the NCAA took initial steps toward restoring fairness by limiting competition in women’s sports to women. However, the Department of Education has identified loopholes in the policy, acknowledging that more work is needed. I urge the NCAA to recognize and uphold the achievements of female athletes and correct the injustices we have endured over the past few years.
Fighting to protect women’s sports hasn’t been easy. But courage begets courage and there is strength in numbers. Let us continue defending truth, common sense and the rights of women. The next generation of female athletes is depending on us.
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Riley Gaines is a 12-time NCAA All-American who competed for the University of Kentucky NCAA swim team before retiring from competition and focusing on political activism. Riley is host of Outkick “Gaines for Girls” podcast.
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