Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines recently revealed a letter allegedly sent to the Harvard swim team concerning transgender athlete Lia Thomas' participation in the sport. Gaines, a vocal advocate for fairness in women's sports, has consistently opposed the NCAA's policies allowing biological males to compete against females.

The letter, as shared by Gaines, reportedly emphasizes Lia Thomas' transparency and adherence to NCAA regulations. It acknowledges the challenging discussions surrounding Thomas' involvement, urging the team to prioritize their own performance and avoid negativity. It also suggests directing media inquiries to the Sports Media Office and refraining from personal commentary.

Gaines interpreted the letter as an attempt to deflect concerns about fairness, using emotional manipulation and minimizing the impact on female athletes. She criticized the message for discouraging athletes from voicing their opinions and deferring to the NCAA's decisions.

The letter also references Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender Division I swimmer, who transitioned from female to male and competed on the Harvard men's team. Thomas' victory in the 2022 NCAA Division I Championships as a transgender female ignited a national debate on transgender athletes in women's sports. Currently, numerous states have enacted regulations regarding transgender female participation in women's sports, including Alabama, which recently banned biological males from competing in college women's sports.

Harvard has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.