In a recent online altercation, Keith Olbermann, a controversial figure known for his provocative commentary, found himself on the receiving end of a sharp retort from former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines.
Olbermann, notorious for his online attacks on conservative women from the seclusion of his basement studio, attempted to belittle Gaines' athletic achievements. This came in response to Education Secretary Linda McMahon's suggestion that Gaines would have won her race if not for the participation of a biological male.
"She finished 85th in the Olympic Trials," Olbermann retorted. "She finished tied for 5th in the only race including a transgendered athlete. If there had been none, she MIGHT have finished tied for 4th, or had 5th place to herself." He further disparaged Gaines, stating, "[Gaines] was, somehow, a worse swimmer than she is a MAGA stooge."
According to RedState, Gaines, undeterred by Olbermann's mockery, defended her athletic record, noting that she was only 15 when she competed in the Olympic trials. "And I placed 5th *in the nation* in a sport measured in .01s of a second without going a best. Would you say the 5th-best college football player is objectively bad at their sport?" she queried.
Gaines didn't mince words when she added, "No. Youre just a misogynistic pig [and] an old, deranged man with a terminal case of TDS who cant hold down a job."
Olbermann's career has been marked by a series of dismissals and suspensions from various networks, including Fox Sports, Current TV, ESPN (multiple times), and MSNBC/NBC. Gaines' remarks about his inability to maintain steady employment appear to be grounded in fact.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gaines proposed a charity race challenge to Olbermann. Initially, she expressed reservations about the idea, humorously stating, "I'd challenge [Keith] to a race where the loser puts up $ to the charity of the winner's choice, but no one wants to see him in a Speedo." However, she later reconsidered and suggested a 200-yard freestyle race for charity.
Olbermann, in response, tweeted, "This is a brilliant idea [Riley]! A 66-year-old man with an arthritic left knee and chronic stress fractures in the right foot. Somebody you could finally beat!" Despite his sarcastic response, it's worth noting that Gaines is a highly accomplished former NCAA swimmer with a long list of academic and athletic achievements.
In contrast, Olbermann's athletic record is virtually non-existent. His only known attempt at an athletic feat was in 1980 when he tried to leap onto a subway after a Mets game at Shea Stadium, resulting in a head injury that left him unable to drive.
This isn't the first time Olbermann has found himself on the losing end of a verbal spar with a strong woman. He previously attempted to discredit Megyn Kelly by referencing a job controversy during her time at NBC News.
Kelly responded, But the record is very clear that I left voluntarily because I wanted to raise my family. Something you dont know anything about because no one would marry you. She added, And you have no children. You have a cold, lonely life in which youve become a bitter, bitter man."
Today, Olbermann appears to be a bitter, deranged man, shouting into the void, trying to attract the attention of a young woman with both athletic prowess and the intellect to recognize when a man is masquerading as a woman to enhance their athletic careers. His attempts to belittle Gaines only serve to highlight his own shortcomings.
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