Simone Biles’ Old Post Sparks Firestorm in Trans Athlete Debate with Riley Gaines

In a twist that’s got the sports world buzzing, an old social media post from Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles has resurfaced, stirring the pot in her ongoing feud with Riley Gaines. Back in 2017, Biles posted a cheeky comment expressing relief that men don’t compete in women’s gymnastics, writing, "ahhhh good thing guys don't compete against girls or he'd take all the gold medals !!" This was shortly after the 2017 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Canada, where American women shone bright despite Biles’ absence.

Fast forward to now, and this quip has been weaponized in a heated debate over transgender athletes in sports. Riley Gaines, a vocal advocate on the issue and host of a popular podcast, didn’t hold back, pointing out the irony of Biles’ past words against her current stance. Gaines questioned how Biles reconciles her 2017 self with her recent fiery criticism, where she accused Gaines of bullying the trans community instead of fostering inclusivity.

The clash ignited on Friday when Biles took to social media to call out Gaines over the controversy surrounding a transgender athlete’s performance in Minnesota high school softball. Biles didn’t mince words, suggesting Gaines was a "sore loser" and should focus on uplifting trans athletes or creating safe, inclusive spaces in sports—perhaps even a separate category. The backlash to Biles’ comments has been intense, with opinions flying from all corners of the internet.

This isn’t just a personal spat; it’s a microcosm of the larger, thornier debate about fairness, identity, and competition in sports. Both sides have their champions, but the question remains: can we find a balance that respects everyone’s right to compete?