Culture
Simone Biles Slams Riley Gaines as “Sick” in Heated Trans Athlete Debate
Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles has ignited a firestorm on social media after calling former swimmer and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines “sick” over her latest comments about a transgender athlete. The clash, unfolding on X (formerly Twitter), adds fuel to the increasingly polarised debate around transgender participation in sports, with both sides wielding powerful platforms and passionate followers.
The Spark: Gaines Targets Trans Player in Championship Team
The controversy began when Riley Gaines, a vocal critic of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, mocked the Minnesota State High School League for turning off comments on a celebratory post about Chaplin Park High School’s girls’ softball team, which includes a transgender woman player.
Rather than praise the student-athletes, Riley Gaines used the opportunity to spotlight her ongoing opposition to trans participation in women’s categories — a stance that has become central to her public identity.
Simone Biles Fires Back
Simone Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist and mental health advocate, responded swiftly and sharply.
“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser,” Biles wrote in a viral post, referring to the now-infamous 2022 NCAA Championship, where Gaines tied for fifth place in the 200m freestyle with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Biles didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, she urged Gaines to stop targeting the trans community and instead consider how to create inclusive spaces in sports.
“You should be uplifting the trans community… maybe a transgender category in all sports. But instead, you bully them. One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around.”
@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. 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. Maybe a transgender… https://t.co/pjpzuZ0AlO
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025
Gaines Responds: “Disappointed” in Biles
Unsurprisingly, Gaines hit back. She expressed “deep disappointment” in Biles’ position and accused her of using her platform to support what she views as unfair competition in women’s sports.
Since her tie with Thomas in 2022, Gaines has built a career around advocating for trans exclusion in female competitions. Most recently, she was present when Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from women’s sports, reinforcing her commitment to this cause.
bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines_
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025
Gaines claims that the presence of trans athletes undermines fairness and leaves cisgender women “cheated, betrayed, and violated” — words she has used repeatedly since her NCAA result.
Biles Joins a Growing List of Athletes Speaking Up
This isn’t the first time Simone Biles has spoken out publicly, though it marks one of her most direct engagements in the trans sports debate. The Olympic legend, who famously stepped back during the 2021 Tokyo Games to protect her mental health, has become an advocate for athlete well-being and inclusion.
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Her comments come amid growing international regulation: World Aquatics has banned trans women from elite events if they’ve undergone male puberty, and in the UK, several sports — including football and cricket — have barred trans women from female categories following recent legal rulings.
As the world of sports continues grappling with questions of fairness and inclusion, figures like Simone Biles calling Riley Gaines sick is push back as the anti trans stance has been out of control.
