Simone Biles vs. Riley Gaines: Transgender Athlete Feud Ignites Sports Fairness Debate
Sarah Johnson
June 9, 2025
Brief
Simone Biles and Riley Gaines clash over transgender athletes, sparking debate on fairness in women’s sports.
In a fiery clash that’s set social media ablaze, Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines have locked horns over transgender athletes in women’s sports. The feud erupted when Biles called out Gaines on X, branding her a "bully" after Gaines criticized a transgender athlete’s victory in a Minnesota softball championship. Gaines, never one to back down, fired back on her Gaines for Girls podcast, accusing Biles of torching her own legacy with just two tweets.
Gaines praised Biles as one of the greatest athletes ever but argued her stance undermines fairness in women’s sports. "In 2025, why would Biles advocate for this?" Gaines asked, suggesting Biles, like soccer star Megan Rapinoe before her, is taking a controversial stand after her competitive days are done. Biles, however, invited open debate, signaling she’s ready to dive into the contentious issue.
This isn’t just a personal spat—it’s a microcosm of the broader debate roiling sports. Gaines, a vocal advocate for protecting women’s categories, tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022, fueling her crusade. Biles’ comments, Gaines claims, dismiss the very platform that made her a household name. The question now: will this debate reshape how we view athletic fairness?
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Editor's Comments
Looks like Biles flipped into a controversy vault and landed in hot water! Gaines says she’s pulling a Rapinoe—retiring from the mat but not the debate. Why wait ‘til the gold’s in the bag to stir the pot? This feud’s got more twists than a gymnastics routine!
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