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Former University of Kentucky women’s swimmer Kaitlynn Wheeler fired back at unemployed media personality Keith Olbermann after Olbermann posted a personal insult against Wheeler on social media.
Olbermann responded to X on Wheeler’s post, celebrating a women’s rights rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday during oral arguments for two cases that focused on the legality of biologically male trans athletes in women’s sports. Wheeler and several other prominent activists, including Riley Gaines, Brooke Slusser and Stephanie Turner, spoke outside court in support of protecting women’s sports.
“It’s still about you trying to find an excuse for a wasted life trying to succeed in sports with no talent,” Olbermann wrote in response to Wheeler’s post.
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Keith Olbermann weighed in on Ronny Jackson’s update. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC NewsWire)
Wheeler was one of the women’s college swimmers to compete against and share a locker room with transgender former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Wheeler, who was Gaines’ teammate at the time, also earned All-SEC First Team honors and is an SEC champion in the 800m freestyle relay.
Wheeler issued a statement to Pakinomist Digital in response to Olbermann’s attack, suggesting the pundit is an “angry old man” trying to stay relevant.
“When women refuse to shut up, angry old men like Keith Olbermann lash out. It doesn’t bother me. It proves why this fight matters. We’re fighting for justice. He’s fighting to stay relevant,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler also responded to Olbermann in several X-posts, drawing attention to his employment status while boasting about her own athletic achievements.
INSIDE SCOTUS HEARING TO BE A TURNING POINT IN THE CULTURE WAR OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS
Kaitlynn Wheeler speaks at the US Supreme Court in support of protecting women’s sports. (Courtesy of Kaitlynn Wheeler)
“You got fired…repeatedly I might add Making a career out of trolling women online is an…interesting career pivot for an old man. Meanwhile we’re out here actually making a difference for girls. We’re not the same,” Wheeler wrote, later quipping, “‘A life wasted trying to succeed in sports with no talent from All-America and SEC Champion-American Red. from almost EVERY network he’s touched lol…you’d know a thing or two about a wasted life.”
Several prominent female athletes, women’s sports activists, defended Wheeler on social media against Olbermann.
Women’s tennis legend Martina Navratilova told Olbermann she unfollowed him on X because of the remark.
“Seriously? Kaitlynn is right but you are making it a nasty personal attack. Shame on you Keith. With this kind of attack you are no different than the other side… Unfollow…” Navratilova wrote.
Wheeler’s teammate Gaines pointed out that Olbermann has no wife or children.
“A 70[-year-old] loner with no wife or kids who spends his time compulsively targeting college-aged women online. What a miserable existence. I don’t envy you, but I’m praying for you,” Gaines wrote.
Former Team USA women’s ultra runner Carilyn Johson suggested that Olbermann is “mentally ill”.
“I used to think Keith Olbermann was just a misogynist. Now I think he’s a mentally ill misogynist. To say something like that to a former SEC championship female athlete [Wheeler] is deranged,” Johnson wrote.
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(Left) Keith Olbermann, host of “Countdown,” during “Decision 2010” on Nov. 2, 2010. (Right) (Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images; Courtesy of Kaitlynn Wheeler)
Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council for Women’s Sport (ICONS), wrote “You’re digging your own grave” in response to Olbermann.
Former University of Arizona women’s swimmer Marshi Smith, the other co-founder of ICONS, wrote “Who is this crusty goblin?”
