Simone Biles, the Olympic champion gymnast, recently criticized swimmer Riley Gaines for her stance against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Biles called Gaines "sick" for her comments, which came in response to a recent success by a transgender athlete in Minnesota high school softball.
The controversy began when Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender player, led Champlin Park High School’s girls’ softball team to the state championship by pitching a perfect game. This achievement sparked a celebration from the Minnesota State High School League, which limited replies on their post, likely to avoid backlash.
Gaines, who became known for her activism after competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, responded to the league’s post by saying, “To be expected when your star player is a boy.” Biles took offense to this, labeling Gaines a "bully" and a "sore loser." She urged Gaines to support the trans community instead of criticizing them, suggesting the creation of a separate category for transgender athletes in all sports.
In her reply, Gaines expressed disappointment, stating that it is not her responsibility to include men in women’s sports. She firmly stated, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports, and I say that with my full chest.” Biles then made personal comments about Gaines, suggesting she should "bully someone your own size," implying a jab at Gaines’ appearance.
The exchange drew significant attention, with many of Biles’ fans expressing disapproval of her comments. Critics accused her of body-shaming and failing to support women in sports. Activist Sall Grover pointed out that a recent attempt to create a category for transgender athletes at the Swimming World Cup ended up canceled due to a lack of participants.
Despite the backlash, Biles did not clarify her position on men competing in women’s sports. When a commenter questioned the fairness of allowing men in women’s gymnastics, Biles responded dismissively, suggesting they lacked comprehension.
Public opinion on this issue tends to favor keeping men out of women’s sports. A recent poll showed that 79% of Americans believe transgender athletes should not compete in women’s athletics. This ongoing debate continues to spark strong opinions from both sides, highlighting the complexities of inclusion in sports.