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Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly criticized the Scripps National Spelling Bee for including “womyn” as an alternative spelling of “women” in its list of approved study words for third-grade contestants.

NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines reads an email from her phone during Gov. Kim Reynolds Harvest Festival at the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 14, 2023 in Des Moines.

Gaines expressed her frustration during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity on Thursday, calling the decision part of the “fabricated issues” surrounding gender politics.

“How lucky are we to live in the United States of America, where the spelling of women, never mind the definition, has become a national debate,” Gaines said.

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She argued that issues like this are created by individuals who “believe they’re marginalized or oppressed” but are, in her words, living in “the greatest nation in the entire world.”

Gaines rose to prominence after her criticism of trans athlete Lia Thomas and has since been a vocal figure in debates about gender and women’s sports.

Mar 18, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas holds a trophy after finishing fifth in the 200 free at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships as Kentucky Wildcats swimmer Riley Gaines looks on at Georgia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

She suggested that the Spelling Bee’s decision to accept “womyn” reflects broader cultural controversies, pointing to the 2023 Budweiser and Dylan Mulvaney marketing fallout as another example.

Gaines referred to Mulvaney as “a man who they dressed as Audrey Hepburn.”


The Scripps National Spelling Bee, however, defended the inclusion of “womyn” in its study materials.

A spokesperson explained that all words in the annual competition are drawn from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, which lists “womyn” as an alternate spelling of “women” used in some feminist contexts.

“During competition, our policy is to accept any correct spelling listed in our official dictionary that isn’t marked archaic or obsolete.

The alternate spelling ‘womyn’ is therefore included on our study list because it is listed as an alternate spelling for ‘women’ in Merriam-Webster,” the spokesperson said.

The Oxford Dictionary also recognizes “womyn” as a variant of “woman,” with the spelling designed to avoid association with the word “man.”

Scripps emphasized that its word lists aim to include any alternate spellings listed in its official source. “The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary is the final authority and sole source for the spelling of all words offered in competition,” the organization stated.

Gaines’ remarks included a pointed critique of the implications of the Spelling Bee’s policy.

She suggested that the controversy surrounding gender terminology represents a broader cultural issue. “Imagine a kid getting the word ‘women’ and asking for the definition,” she said. “It would be this beautiful full circle moment because those with little-to-no common sense have not been able to answer that question for years now.”

The inclusion of “womyn” in the Spelling Bee is the latest in a series of debates over language, gender identity, and cultural norms.

While the organization maintains that it adheres strictly to its official dictionary, figures like Gaines continue to question whether such decisions contribute to cultural controversies or reflect broader societal trends.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee remains a widely recognized competition, but its policies and word selections will likely continue to face scrutiny as cultural debates evolve.