NCAA isn't giving Lia Thomas' medals to Riley Gaines; that's satire | Fact check

Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: The NCAA is giving Lia Thomas’ swimming medals to Riley Gaines

A Nov. 29 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows photos of swimmers Riley Gaines and Lia Thomas above the headline of a purported news story.

“NCAA To Transfer Medals from Lia Thomas to Riley Gaines,” reads the headline.

Many commenters treated it as legitimate news.

“Good for you Riley. You deserve them. You also deserve medals for being a fantastic advocate and role model for women everywhere,” one commenter wrote.

“Sad she had to fight for it out of the pool,” wrote another.

It was shared more than 10,000 times in 10 days.

More from the USA TODAY Fact Check Team:

Our rating: Satire

Both an NCAA spokesperson and the publisher of the website that posted the story said it is false. It was posted by an account that states in its bio that it posts satirical content. The caption contains a link to a story that is labeled as satire.

Claim originated on satirical website

Thomas became the first transgender athlete to claim a national title at the NCAA’s top level when she won the women’s 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 Division I championship. Gaines, also a former collegiate swimmer, has been critical of the organization’s decision to allow Thomas to compete against her and has become a vocal opponent of transgender women participating in women’s sports, most recently testifying Dec. 6 before a House subcommittee about the issue.

Fact check: International federation claimed to have banned Lia Thomas disbanded in 1934

The claim that the NCAA said it would give Thomas’ medals to Gaines is false. It was posted by the satirical account SpaceXMania, and site publisher Tim Lawson confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that the story is a fabrication.

The account’s bio states that the website specializes in satire and humor. The story linked in the caption is clearly marked as satire, and the author’s biography states that he “is known for his satirical writing.”

NCAA spokesperson Greg Johnson also told USA TODAY the claim is false.

“The results of the race are final,” Johnson said in an email.

The story does not specify which of Thomas’ awards the NCAA purportedly claimed it would present to Gaines.

They tied for fifth place in the women’s 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships in 2022, with Thomas swimming for the University of Pennsylvania and Gaines representing the University of Kentucky.

A closer look at one key detail in the story also reveals it to be a fabrication. The NCAA awards trophies – not medals – to its champions and high finishers. Photos taken following the women’s 200-yard freestyle race in question show both Thomas and Gaines holding trophies.

USA TODAY has debunked several false claims about Thomas and Gaines, including assertions that the NCAA stripped Thomas of her title and that Gaines was awarded $1.2 million and a guaranteed berth in the 2024 championship.

The Associated Press also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA didn't say it's reallocating trans swimmer's medals | Fact check