Simone Biles And Riley Gaines Clash Over Transgender Athletes In Women's Sports
Simone Biles took aim at conservative pundit and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines Friday. Biles, the most successful gymnast of all time, called out the former swimmer for her recent comments advocating for the exclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports.
Since tying for fifth place with transgender female swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Swimming Championships, Gaines has transitioned from athlete to conservative activist, with her views staunchly focused on the opposition of transgender inclusion in women's sports.
Lately, Gaines' commentary has included spotlighting and vilifying transgender children and teens for their involvement in women's and girls' sports. On Friday, Gaines spouted off at a children's softball team on X, mocking the team's moderators for turning off the post comments.
'Comments off lol,' Gaines commented in a quote tweet. "To be expected when your star player is a boy,' she added.
Biles quickly vilified Gaines' comment, putting the conservative commentator on blast in front of Biles' nearly 2 million followers.
'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,' Biles said, referencing Gaines' fifth-place finish.
'Straight up sore loser. 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 continued.
'Instead...you bully them. One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!'
Gaines was quick to fight back and diminish Biles' years of advocacy for mental health and safety in the sport, labeling Biles 'a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams."
The former swimmer then attempted to deflect and insert transphobic talking points, insinuating that Biles should partake in men's gymnastics due to the gymnast's viewpoints.
'Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028," Gaines said.
Gaines gained notoriety for her fervent anti-trans views following a 5th-place finish at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Since the disappointing result, the former Kentucky Wildcat has become fully immersed in her chosen cause: preventing transgender women athletes from competing in women's sports.
She has testified before Congress, joined a lawsuit against the NCAA, and founded an advocacy center focused on what Gaines believes is 'fairness in women's sports.' The 25-year-old frequently aligns with conservative political figures, including current U.S. President Donald Trump. Ultimately, Gaines has achieved media success as a sports figure despite minimal success within her sport.
Conversely, Simone Biles has staunchly advocated for athlete well-being throughout her historic career. Biles champions mental health awareness and changed the narrative following her withdrawal due to 'The Twisties' during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Additionally, as one of the most prominent survivors in the U.S.A Gymnastics Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, Biles used her platform to advocate for accountability and the establishment of safe environments in women's sports.
Together, the two figures could not be more at odds – both in terms of success within their sports and in their treatment of others.
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