Joe Rogan and his podcast, the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience), is known for providing its guests with a massive platform to share their stories. As such, Riley Gaines, a former American competitive swimmer, recently appeared on the show and shared the journey that led to her becoming an advocate for women’s rights.

Gaines has been vocal about her issues with the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports. And during the conversation with Rogan, she highlighted one particular moment from her career that prompted her to, “no longer being willing to lie”. Let’s take a look at what she had to say.

Riley Gaines claims “impossible” scenario led to her activism to Joe Rogan 

During the podcast appearance, Gaines recounted a scenario from her swimming career when she was competing against Lia Thomas, a trans athlete.

She stated, “Well I’ll tell you, really what had thrusted me over the edge into no longer being willing to lie, ultimately. He and I raced in the 200 freestyle, this the day after he swam the 500 freestyle and won a national title, beat out Olympians, beating out American record holders, right, keep in mind these aren’t scrubs.”

She also highlighted the fact that Thomas had been securing victories by margins that were astounding and in a sport like competitive swimming, even the smallest differences in times can decide your standing in at the end of the race.

Gaines continued by stating, “But the second day of competition, the day after this, he and I race in the 200 freestlyle. So, look we get on the blocks, dive, swim eight laps of freestyle, touch the ball at the end, I look up at the scoreboard and almost impossibily enough, Joe, we had gotten the exact same time. Meaning of course, we had tied… But again, going a minute and 40-ish seconds, and not even one 100th separated us, you can’t tell me that’s not divine intervention.” 

She described the moment as “divine intervention”, emphasizing the implausibility of such a close result in a sport where even a fraction of a second can make a difference. Therefore, the experience challenged Gaines’ perception of fairness in sports and motivated her to advocate for gender equality.

Read More: Riley Gaines on Joe Rogan Show: “NCAA, in True Cowardly Fashion, Is Changing”

But her story didn’t end there as during the same conversation, she also revealed the aftermath of the race and how her statements have brought attention to this debate with the boost from the massive reach of Joe Rogan’s podcast!

Gaines revealed to Rogan that she wasn’t given a trophy despite her tying in a race with Thomas

During her appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Gaines also recounted the moment she learned she wouldn’t receive a trophy for her efforts despite tying for the position with Lia Thomas during their race.

She stated that the officials told her, “Sorry, Riley, you didn’t get one. We have been advised as an organization, that when photos are being taken, that it’s crucial that the trophy is in Lia’s hands,’”

Gaines also shared her experience on social media following the podcast, where she claimed she had received overwhelming support from people who were unaware of the issue. In a post on X, she stated, “So many have reached out to say they had no idea these things are happening. Thank you, @joerogan!! Everyday Americans are waking up.”

While her platform has undoubtedly grown due to the massive reach of the JRE podcast, so too has the scrutiny and division surrounding the issue. As the debates continue, Gaines remains a central figure, navigating both praise and criticism in her quest for fairness and equity in athletics.

Read More: Joe Rogan Recalls His Manager’s Warning About ‘Gambling’ Problem After Getting ‘Indulgent’