Riley Gaines Challenges Nancy Armour Over Simone Biles Remarks

Riley Gaines has pushed back against USA Today columnist Nancy Armour, who supported Simone Biles following her critique of former NCAA swimmer Gaines. Armour framed Biles as an advocate for the transgender community, as American gymnasts labeled Gaines a “bully” for her stance on preserving women’s sports. The columnist also claimed that “there’s no scientific proof that transgender female athletes have physical advantages over cisgender female athletes.”

Armour urged her audience to view Biles more favorably than Gaines. In response, Gaines criticized Armour’s comments during a recent episode of Outkick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast. She expressed, “She’s made a name for herself by discriminating against girls. It’s embarrassing to have to oppose someone like her.” Gaines further added that Armour has been “completely unbearable” and questioned her right to work at USA Today.

Gaines then challenged the idea of “scientific evidence” claiming that men do not hold physical advantages in sports. “Do they really think it sounds reasonable to say men don’t have an advantage over women?” she asked.

This heated exchange kicked off over the weekend when Simone Biles publicly criticized Gaines after a race. Biles responded on social media, suggesting, “You’re just bitter because you lost. Instead of confronting it, you bully others.”

In her reply, Gaines expressed disappointment: “It’s disheartening to think Biles is prioritizing male interests over young girls’ dreams. I didn’t expect to see that perspective.” She added with a hint of sarcasm that perhaps Biles should compete with her in the gymnastics arena in 2028.