Simone Biles, the Olympic gymnastics legend, is making waves after a fiery social media spat with Riley Gaines over transgender athletes in women’s sports. Discover what Biles said, why the debate exploded, and how to navigate the ongoing conversation about fairness and inclusion in athletics.
Biles and Gaines Face Off on Social Media
The clash began on June 6, 2025, when Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer turned conservative activist, posted about a Minnesota high school softball team’s state championship win, led by transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger. Gaines, known for her vocal opposition to transgender women in female sports, remarked, “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” sparking outrage. Simone Biles, 28, fired back on X, calling Gaines “truly sick” and a “sore loser” for her campaign against trans athletes, referencing Gaines’ 2022 tie with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA Championships.
Biles urged for inclusivity, suggesting “a transgender category in all sports” to ensure fairness and safety. “You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports,” she wrote. “But instead… you bully them.” She added a sharp jab: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.” Gaines hit back, calling Biles’ stance “disappointing” and arguing it’s not women’s responsibility to “include men in our spaces.” The feud has dominated online chatter, with figures like Martina Navratilova and Dana Loesch weighing in.
Why the Debate Is Heating Up
The controversy stems from Champlin Park High School’s 6–0 title win, powered by Rothenberger’s shutout performance. Minnesota’s 2015 policy allows transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity after a review, but critics, including Gaines, argue it undermines fairness. Gaines, who tied for fifth with Lia Thomas in 2022 and felt “cheated,” has built a platform opposing trans inclusion, appearing alongside President Trump when he signed a February 2025 executive order banning transgender girls from women’s sports. Biles, a long-time LGBTQ+ ally and advocate for athlete well-being, pushed for solutions over division, drawing both praise and backlash.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova entered the fray, asking to speak with Biles directly, saying, “I would love to talk to you about this… pretty sure there is more to it than you know.” Conservative commentator Dana Loesch supported Gaines, calling Biles’ comments a “betrayal” of female athletes. Meanwhile, fans on X are split: some hail Biles as a champion for marginalized communities, while others, like one user, claim she’s “tarnishing her legacy” by supporting trans inclusion.
What’s Driving the Conversation
This feud taps into a broader national debate intensified by Trump’s executive order and ongoing lawsuits, like one from Female Athletes United, arguing trans inclusion violates Title IX. Studies cited by critics show 80% of people oppose biological males in women’s sports, but Biles’ call for a separate category aims to balance fairness and compassion. Her history as a survivor of Larry Nassar’s abuse adds weight to her advocacy for safe sports environments, though Gaines controversially referenced this trauma, drawing ire for insensitivity.
Social media is buzzing, with hashtags like #SimoneBiles, #RileyGaines, and #TransAthletes trending. Supporters of Biles, like one X user, praise her for “standing up against transphobic rhetoric,” while Gaines’ backers argue she’s protecting women’s opportunities. The debate has also revived interest in Lia Thomas, whose 2022 NCAA performance remains a flashpoint.
Biles, who hasn’t ruled out the 2028 LA Olympics, continues to use her platform for advocacy, from mental health to inclusivity. Gaines, host of OutKick’s Gaines for Girls podcast, invited Biles for a discussion, though no response has been confirmed. With legal battles and public sentiment heating up, this debate is far from over. The Minnesota case and Biles’ bold stance could push sports organizations to rethink categories, especially after World Aquatics’ failed 2023 open category experiment.