Riley Gaines, a conservative anti-trans activist, has stirred the pot in a heated exchange on social media with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
In her recent comments, Gaines brought up convicted sexual abuser Larry Nassar, which certainly escalated tensions. She suggested Biles was, in a way, supporting the idea that women should expose themselves to men, saying, “If your ‘inclusive’ dream comes true, do you know how many gold medals you have? Zero.”
Nassar is serving a lengthy prison sentence for abusing numerous gymnasts, including high-profile athletes like Biles, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas.
Gaines’s remarks came in response to criticisms of Minnesota’s softball team, which includes a transgender player, Marissa Rothenberger. She implied that the team’s achievements were expected simply because of a male player, despite them winning the state championship.
Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, responded forcefully, calling Gaines’s focus on the issue “really ill” and implying that her arguments stem from personal grievances after losing a race against transgender swimmer Leah Thomas in 2022.
Biles advocated for raising awareness for the transgender community, suggesting that solutions should be found to create safe and inclusive sports environments. She emphasized that perhaps a separate category for transgender athletes could help.
In a follow-up post, Biles sarcastically remarked on Gaines’s situation, stating, “Ironically, bully your own size that will become a man.”
Gaines retorted by labeling the discourse as disappointing, asserting that it isn’t the responsibility of women to accommodate men in their sports. She further criticized Biles, accusing her of promoting men in women’s sports at the expense of young girls’ dreams.
