Riley Gaines — the outspoken conservative activist and former collegiate swimmer — has entered a new chapter in her life, welcoming her first child with husband Louis Barker.
The 25-year-old revealed on Thursday evening that she had given birth to a baby shorty named Margot on September 29, sharing the joyful news through a heartfelt Instagram post accompanied by family photos.
“A Love Like No Other”
In her announcement, Gaines expressed the overwhelming emotions of becoming a mother for the first time:
“There’s nothing that could’ve prepared me for a love like this. God has blessed us beyond belief.”
The images showed Gaines and Barker tenderly cradling their newborn daughter, beaming with pride and gratitude.
A Love Story From the Pool
Gaines and Barker’s relationship traces back to their collegiate days at the University of Kentucky, where both competed as student-athletes on the swim team. Their shared passion for the sport blossomed into romance, leading to marriage in 2022.
When announcing her pregnancy earlier this year at Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Texas, Gaines showcased her baby bump to the audience, joking:
“How many men do you know that have this?”
Her husband added a moving message about the importance of the fight they often discuss publicly:
“The next generation that our little shorty is going to be a part of — that is who you all are fighting for, and who Turning Point is fighting for. From a father-to-be, thank you, and keep fighting.”
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Controversy and Advocacy
Gaines has been one of the most visible and polarizing voices in debates over transgender athletes in women’s sports. After tying for fifth place with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships, Gaines became a leading figure in the movement to restrict trans participation in female categories.
Her activism has put her at the center of high-profile clashes, including a heated back-and-forth earlier this year with Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles.
When Gaines criticized a Minnesota softball team for fielding a trans pitcher, Biles lashed out online:
“You’re truly sick… Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive… Instead you bully them. No one in sports is safe with you around.”
Biles even went personal, adding: “Bully someone your own size — which would ironically be a male.”
But days later, Biles walked back her comments, publicly apologizing for the tone of her remarks. Gaines accepted the apology, acknowledging the importance of empathy even in disagreement.
Political Recognition
Gaines’ campaigning has caught the attention of major conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump. She was invited to the Oval Office when Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports — a moment that underscored her growing influence in conservative circles.
A New Beginning
While Gaines remains a prominent activist, her focus has immediately shifted to motherhood. With the arrival of baby Margot, the former swimmer says she has been blessed beyond measure — and the photos of her young family radiate that sentiment.
For a woman who has spent the last few years in the center of political firestorms, this up-to-date milestone represents something different: peace, love, and the start of a new journey with her husband and daughter.
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