Keith Olbermann, the repeatedly fired former ESPN sports anchor, has sparked controversy over his personal attack on former NCAA swimming champion Riley Gaines for her activism to save women’s sports from being undermined by male-born “transgender women” athletes.
Olbermann, who has been fired by CNN, ESPN, MSNBC, Current TV, and a long list of smaller news agencies, jumped to his X account to taunt Gaines with an unhinged post saying, “Can you just address the reality and move past it? You sucked at swimming. That’s why you lost.”
While it is often hard for a sane person to know what Olbermann is ranting about at any given time, in this case, he is likely talking about Gaines’ fourth-place finish in the 2022 NCAA swimming championships in which she tied with male-born “transgender” swimmer Lia Thomas.
Olbermann was also apparently upset over Gaines’ defense of a Nebraska “Women’s Bill of Rights,” which maintains that “males and females possess immutable biological differences,” which Gov. Jim Pillen enacted on Aug. 30.
Olbermann did not find much support for his hateful personal attack on the young former swimmer, Fox News noted.
Gaines herself replied by noting that his slobbering attack was explanation enough on why he has been fired so many times.
“Ah, makes sense now why you got fired from ESPN,” she wrote on X.
Ah, makes sense now why you got fired from ESPN. https://t.co/Js2q0NMSxu
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 31, 2023
His broadside against was also widely called a “sexist” attack on the swimmer.
I’m sorry? Your statement should be directed toward a dude named Lia Thomas. He sucks at swimming against biological males so much so that he decided to identify as female just so he could win. How sexist and sad. Both you and “Lia.”
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) August 31, 2023
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan, who has often joined Gaines in the work to save women’s sports, also took aim at the unhinged Olbermann.
“Your political bias blinds you, and dismissive views like yours embolden men to change in front of us,” Scanlan wrote. “Why don’t you address the reality that women’s spaces are being invaded and many women are harmed by this narrative.”
Your political bias blinds you and dismissive views like yours embolden men to change in front of us. Why don’t you address the reality that women’s spaces are being invaded and many women are harmed by this narrative. https://t.co/jxWNTvYCEV
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) August 31, 2023
Former professor Colin Wight also pointed out just how little Olbermann knows by linking to Gaines’ swimming accomplishments, which include the “Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year,” 2022 “All America in 200 free” award, and even an “Olympic Trials qualifier” in 2021.
The reality is staring you in the face. And you’re a nasty ignorant man. Sucked at swimming. https://t.co/GxcTCp4kXt
— Colin Wight (@colwight) August 31, 2023
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