Riley Gaines Responds to Simone Biles After Heated Exchange Over Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Riley Gaines, former NCAA swimmer and vocal advocate for preserving women’s sports for biological females, has responded to comments made by Olympic legend Simone Biles, who criticized her on social media for opposing transgender participation in female athletics.
The controversy began after Gaines reacted to a Minnesota high school softball team winning a state championship with the help of a transgender pitcher — a biological male. Biles responded to Gaines’ remarks by calling her “truly sick” and said she should “uplift the trans community,” adding that Gaines should “bully someone your own size,” which Biles noted “would ironically be a male.”
The unexpected and personal nature of Biles’ response drew swift attention online, with critics suggesting the gymnast had damaged her reputation as a role model for women in sports. Gaines addressed the situation on a new episode of her Gaines for Girls podcast.
“In just two tweets, Simone Biles basically tarnished her reputation with anyone who values honesty, fairness, and equal opportunity in women’s sports,” Gaines said. “She has essentially incinerated her legacy.”
Despite expressing disappointment, Gaines acknowledged Biles’ stature as the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history. She then posed a direct question in response to Biles’ call to support the transgender community: “Why is that my job?”
“Why is it the responsibility of women to create environments where men feel safe, where their identities are validated, and their feelings are prioritized?” Gaines asked. “Simone, if that’s how you want to use your platform, that’s your choice — this is America. But I’m also free to say that it’s misguided.”
Gaines emphasized that her advocacy is focused on protecting fairness and opportunities for biological females, especially younger athletes — including her own sister, a high-level gymnast currently in high school.
“She looks up to me, like most little sisters do,” Gaines shared. “She also loves Simone Biles. But today, she was conflicted and heartbroken. She came to me and said, ‘I thought you and Simone were on the same side — fighting for women in sports.’ And now her gym is talking more about how harsh Simone’s message was than about the sport itself.”
The exchange between Biles and Gaines has reignited debate over the role of transgender athletes in women’s sports — a topic that has become a national flashpoint in recent years.
Gaines closed her podcast with an invitation for dialogue: “Simone, if you’re open to having a respectful conversation about this — whether it’s on Gaines for Girls or any other platform — I welcome it.”
As the cultural conversation around inclusivity, fairness, and identity in sports continues to evolve, this latest dispute highlights the growing tension among athletes, fans, and institutions over what the future of women’s sports should look like.
