Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was recently denied access into the NCAA annual convention.
Gaines, who previously has been nominated Woman of the Year, said that people at the entry would not allow her into the convention.
“I said, ‘Hold on, what do you mean I’m not allowed in there?’” Gaines said. “I pulled up the email and showed them everything was in place to where I most certainly was allowed in there. And they said, ‘No, we know you have your credentials. But that’s not what we’re talking about. You’re just not allowed in there.’”
The NCAA reportedly feared Gaines would disrupt the Woman of the Year ceremony with protesting.
“I’m here to support these girls,” the swimmer continued. “By no means would I want to distract or take anything away from them. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Gaines said she had been denied entry to keep her away from NCAA President Charlie Baker.
“It was clear to me — and it was clear to all my friends who were there with me — that they had simply pulled me aside when Charlie Baker was walking by,” she explained. “So I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to him until he was safely secured in a completely separate room. It was evident.”
“I can’t help but laugh when the NCAA, during this award show, kept saying things like, ‘We strive to create opportunities for trailblazing women,’” Gaines continued. “It’s so ironic listening to them sit there and say they’re creating opportunities when they deliberately took away opportunities for women and continue to do so.”
