Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is facing widespread criticism after engaging [1] in a public dispute with former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines over the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
The controversy began when Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and current host of the Gaines for Girls podcast on OutKick, criticized the Minnesota State High School League for promoting a championship-winning team that included a transgender athlete.
The league had posted a photo of Champlin Park High School’s softball team, which recently won the state title with a standout performance from junior pitcher Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete.
The photo was posted on X, with the comments section disabled.
Meet Champlin Park, the Class AAAA Softball State Champion for 2025. pic.twitter.com/u2S59c9QSS [2]
— Minnesota State High School League (@MSHSL) June 6, 2025 [3]
Gaines responded to the post with a message questioning the league’s decision and highlighting concerns about fairness in women’s sports.
Comments off lol
To be expected when your star player is a boy https://t.co/2qY2onUhNW [4]
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 6, 2025 [5]
In response, Biles publicly condemned Gaines, writing on X, “You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser.”
Biles was referring to Gaines’ participation in the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships, where she competed against Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania.
Biles continued, stating, “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 category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
@Riley_Gaines_ [6] 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 [7]
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025 [8]
In a follow-up post, Biles added, “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines_ [6]
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025 [9]
My height has been settled@Wikipedia [10] please advise https://t.co/Ptn35pyEvh [11] pic.twitter.com/hUfzv10DKS [12]
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 7, 2025 [13]
The posts quickly gained traction online, prompting swift backlash from critics who accused Biles of making personal attacks rather than addressing the underlying concerns raised by Gaines.
Simone Biles made her name in WOMEN’S gymnastics. A sex-protected category.
Now she’s attacking @Riley_Gaines_ [6] for defending the exact same principle in softball.
If biological men had been allowed in your sport, @Simone_Biles [14] , you’d be an anonymous footnote. pic.twitter.com/A9KfK1eeBX [15]
— Jeffery Mead (@the_jefferymead) June 7, 2025 [16]
.@Simone_Biles [14] attacked @Riley_Gaines_ [6] for her looks. Yet she somehow claims to be a woman who supports women.
She only does so with women who fall in line. And she only does it when it’s safe for her.
My take as a former elite gymnast who once supported Simone. No more. pic.twitter.com/roUuYoQ6sU [17]
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) June 7, 2025 [18]
Simone Biles once took part in a body positivity campaign where she spoke positively about her muscles in an effort to inspire “younger girls to love their bodies.”
Yesterday, she said Riley Gaines looked like a man because Gaines opposes boys in girls sports.
What happened to… pic.twitter.com/YuHlWkhaHy [19]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 7, 2025 [20]
“Simone Biles tearing down Riley Gaines and telling her that she should be supporting the tr*ns community and that she lost and that she should accept the fact that she lost is probably the most disgusting thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
THIS!! 🔥👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/e7Vwad9cFJ [21]
— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) June 7, 2025 [22]
Easy to tell women to “compete against men” when you’ve already won your medals. You should be thanking champions like @Riley_Gaines_ [6] for leading the fight for women’s sports. @Simone_Biles [14] pic.twitter.com/VxOdSag6vN [23]
— Olivia Krolczyk ✞ (@oliviakrolczyk_) June 7, 2025 [24]
HOLY SH*T 🚨 Riley Gaines ended Simone Biles whole career just now exposing her hypocrisy of wanting MEN in Women’s sports
Let’s make this VIRAL on 𝕏 pic.twitter.com/Ooo8zFBf3o [25]
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 7, 2025 [26]
Despite the backlash, Biles has not issued any further comments or clarifications since her original posts.
Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, with 30 world championship medals, including a record 23 gold.
She is also an 11-time Olympic medalist and won her seventh Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games.
Riley Gaines, who has become a prominent advocate for women’s sports, frequently speaks out against the inclusion of biological males in female sports divisions.
She has testified before legislative bodies and appeared on multiple platforms to share her perspective.
The incident has reignited ongoing discussions around the balance between inclusivity and fairness in competitive sports, with Biles’ comments adding fuel to a debate that continues to divide athletic organizations and the public alike.