Riley Gaines, also known as Riley Gaines Barker, is an American former competitive swimmer from Gallatin, Tennessee, who competed for the University of Kentucky NCAA swim team. In 2022, Gaines has advocated against the inclusion of trans women in the women’s division of sports, including by lobbying her state representatives to pass a law that would prohibit transgender women from women’s sports. Since 2023, she has hosted the weekly OutKick and Fox Nation podcast Gaines for Girls.
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
Riley Gaines was born on the 22nd of April 2000, in Gallatin, Tennessee, United States.
| Birth Name | Riley Gaines |
| Nickname | Riley, Riley Gaines Barker |
| Date of Birth | 22nd of April 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Gallatin, Tennessee, United States |
| Age | 25 years old |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Profession | Political Activist and Former Swimmer |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
Education
Riley attended Station Camp High School in Gallatin. After graduating from high school in 2017, Riley enrolled at the University of Kentucky, majored in communication and minored in psychology. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2022 with a degree in health sciences. Her original plan was to become a dentist.
Family Details
- Father – Brad Gaines (Footballer)
- Mother – Telisha Gaines (Softball Player)
- Siblings – Taylor (Sister), Neely Gaines (Sister), Bradford (Brother)
Marital Status
Married
Girlfriend / Spouse
Riley Gaines has dated –
- Louis Barker – On May 29, 2022, Riley married her longtime boyfriend Louis Bar.
Physical Statistics
| Height |
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| Weight |
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| Body Measurements |
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| Body Build | Slim |
| Eye Color | Bl;ue |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Shoe Size | 10 (US) |
| Dress Size | 6 |
| Sexuality | Straight |
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Riley became known as an NCAA champion swimmer at the University of Kentucky. She has also been known for fighting to save Women’s sports and has become an outspoken critic of allowing male athletes who identify as trans to compete in women’s sports. Riley is a 12-time All-American swimming champion at the University of Kentucky. Her Instagram account rileygbarker has earned 320K followers.
Riley Gaines Net worth
Riley Gaines has an estimated net worth of $2 million dollars as of 2025.
Social Media Profiles
- Facebook– Riley Gaines
- Instagram – rileygbarker
- Twitter – Riley Gaines
Some Lesser Known Facts About Riley Gaines
- Gaines parents were also active in sports. Her father, Brad Gaines, played football at Vanderbilt University and her mother, Telisha Gaines, played softball at Donelson Christian Academy and Austin Peay.
- As a junior, in 2017, she won the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle in the TISCA High School Swim & Dive Championship in Knoxville.
- In 2019, Gaines joined the University of Kentucky’s swim team and made the All-SEC Freshman Team . In 2019 and 2020, She also made the All-SEC Second Team.
- In the 2021, She participated NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, coming second in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay and seventh in the 200m freestyle race; she made the All-SEC First Team that year.
- In 2022, Gaines has been presented with Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- In 2022, Gaines has been presented with Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
- Riley gave a speech at the Independent Women’s Forum and she has also appeared on the TV news show Fox News.
- In 2023, Gaines appeared as a witness at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on safeguarding civil rights for LGBTQ Americans and according to C-SPAN, shared her “own personal experience competing with trans swimmer Lia Thomas and having to share the same dressing room.”
- On June 2, 2023, Gaines endorsed Republican Ron DeSantis in the 2024 US presidential election; after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, she expressed her support for Trump’s candidacy.
- In March 2024, she was one of 16 female student athletes who launched a legal case against the National Collegiate Athletic Association over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
- In August 2024, Gaines announced the launch of the “Riley Gaines Center” at the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Riley Gaines?
Riley Gaines is an American Political Activist and Former Swimmer.
What is the real name of Riley Gaines?
His real name is Riley Marie Gaines.
What is the age of Riley Gaines?
She is 25 years old (22nd of April 2000).
What is Riley Gaines Height?
The Height of Riley Gaines is 1.75M (5′ 9”).
What is Riley Gaines Weight?
The Weight of Riley Gaines is 60 kg (132 lbs).
Why is Riley Gaines Famous?
Riley became known as an NCAA champion swimmer at the University of Kentucky. She has also been known for fighting to save Women’s sports and has become an outspoken critic of allowing male athletes who identify as trans to compete in women’s sports.
What is the Net worth of Riley Gaines?
Riley Gaines has an estimated net worth of $2 million dollars as of 2025.
