Riley Gaines

STEUBENVILLE– The Turning Point USA chapter at Franciscan University of Steubenville will host Riley Gaines, a former NCAA All-American swimmer and national advocate for women’s athletics, will speak at the Franciscan University of Steubenville at 7 p.m. March 3.

Hosted by the Turning Point USA chapter at the university, the presentation will be held in the Pope St. Paul VI Event Center, Christ the Teacher Hall. Free and open to the public, doors for the event will open at 6:30 p.m.

Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky, has emerged as a national leader in the movement to defend women’s sports and uphold the reality of sex-based distinctions in an era of growing confusion about gender. Following her experience competing against a biological male at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, she began speaking publicly about the importance of protecting equal opportunities for female athletes and preserving the integrity of women’s athletic competition.

Today, Gaines is a contributor for Turning Point USA and a frequent speaker on issues related to sports, culture, and public policy. She has testified before Congress and state legislatures, challenged policies of major athletic organizations and advocated for the continued protection of Title IX.

“Riley Gaines represents a generation of young leaders willing to speak clearly and courageously in the midst of cultural confusion,” said junior Theodore Welsch, president of the university’s Turning Point chapter. “At a time when the meaning of fairness and truth is increasingly contested, her witness reminds us that standing for what is objectively true requires conviction, clarity and courage. We encourage students and members of the community to attend and engage with these important questions.”

Franciscan University has emphasized the importance of forming students who can engage contemporary cultural debates with intellectual rigor, moral clarity and charity. Gaines’ visit reflects the school’s commitment to fostering thoughtful dialogue on complex issues at the intersection of faith, reason and public life, university officials explained.