Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer voices support for Riley Gaines: 'A lot of us veterans are behind her'

Former Olympic gold medal swimmer Donna de Varona explains the need for a 'reasonable way' to allow all people to compete in sports while protecting fairness and safety in women's divisions.

Olympic gold medalist Donna de Varona spoke out on the need for a reasonable approach to the ongoing debate over women’s sports and transgender rights. 

Varona called on parents of young girls to voice support for Riley Gaines, a former Kentucky swimmer who has spearheaded the fight for women’s sports in recent months. 

Gaines was assaulted on the San Francisco State University campus after delivering a speech on protecting women’s sports. She has faced severe backlash for her opinion that transgender athletes – specifically biological males who have transitioned to female – should not be permitted to compete in the women’s division.

Varona said Gaines is not alone in her fight. 

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"She's got a lot of us veterans behind her," Varona said on "The Brian Kilmeade Show" Monday. "But where is middle America? Wake up, mothers and fathers, and start speaking out."

Varona told host Brian Kilmeade that athletes like Gaines were "muzzled" and told not to speak out after competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Varona argued there needs to be a "reasonable" approach that allows transgender athletes to participate in sports.

Swimmer Riley Gaines is barricaded in a room at San Francisco State University after she says she was assaulted while speaking at a college event put on by a popular conservative organization. (Riley Gaines via Twitter, Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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