On Friday, Simone Biles responded to OutKick contributor Riley Gaines, who criticized a Minnesota high school for having a transgender athlete win the state championship in softball.
Transgender player Marissa Rothenberger excelled during the postseason, leading Champlin Park High School to a state title with a shutout performance.
After the match, the Minnesota State High School League shared a photo on social media, prompting Gaines to remark on the disabled comments section on X.
“You’re expected that your star player is a boy,” she noted.
Upon seeing this, Biles, who has won seven Olympic gold medals, commented on Gaines’ post, declaring her remarks as “really ill.”
Biles went on to say, “This is about your campaign because you lost the race. It feels like you’re just trying to soothe the pain of a loser.” Biles had previously competed against transgender swimmer Leah Thomas in 2022.
She suggested that it’s essential to uplift the transgender community, advocating for inclusive sports and new opportunities that would ensure safety for transgender individuals in athletics.
In a subsequent post, Biles remarked, “Ironically, you’re bullying your own size, assuming you could become a man.”
Gaines, in her own response, stated, “It’s unfortunate. It’s not the responsibility of women to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can amplify men’s achievements in women’s sports, but men shouldn’t compete in women’s categories.”
She also provoked thought with a question about whether Biles is prioritizing male perspectives at the expense of young girls’ aspirations.
“And hints of ‘body shaming’? Please, I’m only 5’5,'” Gaines replied, addressing a personal jab.
Biles, however, did not indicate a belief that trans athletes should compete against women. When a user on X pointed out that there are distinct competitions for male and female gymnasts, Biles challenged their reading comprehension.
“Can you even read? It’s clear you struggle with comprehension too…” Biles wrote, reiterating her recommendation for a separate category for transgender athletes.
Research indicates that around 80% of the population feels that biological men should be excluded from women’s sports.
