Riley Gaines to speak at dinner

COEUR d'ALENE — Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer and advocate for women's sports, will be the keynote speaker at the Kootenai County Republican Women Federated dinner and fundraiser Sept. 16 at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Gaines, who swam at the University of Kentucky, will address the importance of fighting to save women's sports.

According to a press release, Gaines "experienced a pivotal moment in her life that altered her post-graduate ambitions. At the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming Championship, Riley was forced to share a locker room and then compete against Lia Thomas, a 6-foot 1-inch biological male athlete."

Gaines will share her personal journey, talk about fair competition in women's sports and address efforts to protect the integrity of female athletes, the release said.

"We are delighted to have Riley Gaines join us as the keynote speaker for our Women in Red event," said Davalu Cummings, president of Kootenai County Republican Women Federated. "Her story is a powerful testament to the need for fair competition and equal opportunities in women's sports. Riley's advocacy aligns perfectly with our organization's values and we believe her presence will ignite meaningful discussions and inspire positive change."

Tickets: KCRWF.com