Olympic legend Simone Biles has found herself at the center of a social media firestorm after calling out former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines in a heated online exchange that has sparked fierce debate across the sports world.
It all began when the Minnesota State High School League proudly posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating Champlin Park High School’s 2025 Class AAAA Softball State Championship win. The girls' team smiled for the camera, medals around their necks, championship plaque in hand. But something else caught attention—comments were turned off.
That silence didn’t go unnoticed by Gaines, a vocal critic of transgender participation in women’s sports. She responded, “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.”
Her words were sharp—and they struck a nerve.
Enter Simone Biles. The Olympic gymnast fired back with a tweet that rocked the platform:
“@Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser.”
Biles didn’t stop there. She called Gaines a bully and urged her to stop targeting transgender athletes, suggesting instead that she work toward solutions—like advocating for a separate competitive category where all athletes could feel safe and seen.
But Gaines wasn’t backing down.
She responded publicly, expressing disappointment and accusing Biles of turning her back on women and girls. In her view, allowing trans women to compete in female categories undermines fairness and safety in sport.
“It’s not our responsibility to include men in women’s spaces,” Gaines wrote.
As the digital dust settled, the internet lit up with responses—some hailing Biles for her courage, others condemning her for what they saw as disrespect.
One user tweeted, “Simone called Riley a bully, but her own words were rude and uncalled for. As a role model, she should do better.”
Another added, “Just like that, you’re no longer a role model for young girls.”
Yet many rallied behind Biles.
“This is real leadership. Thank you for standing up, Simone,” one supporter posted.
Another wrote, “Didn’t think I could respect her more, but wow—The GOAT speaks truth.”
As the controversy swirled, Gaines doubled down. In an Instagram video, she accused Biles of hypocrisy for mocking her physique—pointing to a Biles tweet that said,
“Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines.”
Gaines reminded viewers that Biles herself had once been body-shamed for being too muscular and accused the gymnast of perpetuating the same toxic behavior.
But beyond the back-and-forth, Gaines positioned herself as a growing force in the movement to preserve women-only spaces in sports. A 12-time All-American and graduate of the University of Kentucky, she rose to national attention in 2022 after tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA Women’s Championships—a moment she says marked the beginning of her advocacy.
Since then, Gaines has testified before Congress, worked with national women’s rights organizations, and fought to legally define what it means to be a “woman” in sports law. Her mission? To protect Title IX, safeguard single-sex competition, and give female athletes a fair playing field.
Simone Biles, meanwhile, remains a powerful voice for inclusion and compassion in sport—but not without controversy. Her call-out struck a cultural nerve, revealing just how divided the public remains over gender, identity, and fairness in the world of athletics.
🔥 Simone Biles vs. Riley Gaines: The Internet Is Divided After Explosive Clash Over Trans Athlete Controversy
Simone Biles is trending—and not just for her Olympic achievements. The gymnastics legend just clapped back at former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines in a fiery exchange that’s lighting up social media. And now, everyone’s taking sides.
It started when the Minnesota State High School League posted a celebratory photo of Champlin Park High School's girls' softball team, crowned the 2025 Class AAAA State Champions. The girls looked thrilled, holding their plaque and wearing medals.
But comments were turned off—and Riley Gaines had something to say about that.
She wrote:
👉 “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.”
That’s when Simone Biles entered the chat—with zero chill:
👉 “@Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick. All of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser.”
🔥 The internet exploded.
Simone didn’t hold back—accusing Gaines of bullying trans athletes instead of working toward real solutions like creating safe spaces for everyone to compete.
But Gaines hit right back.
She said Biles was turning her back on women and girls who want a fair shot in sports—and that it’s not women’s responsibility to include men in their spaces.
The back-and-forth sparked massive reactions online 👇
💬 “Wow. As a role model, Simone’s words were shockingly disrespectful.”
💬 “Just like that, she’s no longer a role model for little girls.”
But many stood by Simone:
💬 “This is what leadership looks like. Simone is GOAT-level on AND off the mat.”
💬 “She said what needed to be said. Enough with the hate.”
Then it got even more personal.
Gaines accused Biles of body-shaming her—highlighting a tweet where Biles said:
👉 “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines.”
Gaines pointed out the irony—reminding people that Biles herself once faced criticism for being too muscular as a young athlete.
Now, Gaines is using this moment to double down on her activism. A 12-time All-American swimmer, she’s become a leading voice for protecting women’s sports—testifying before Congress, speaking out on college campuses, and pushing for single-sex competition across the country.
Meanwhile, Biles is being praised by many for standing up for inclusion—and criticized by others for crossing the line.
💥 So, what do YOU think?
➡️ Was Simone right to call Riley out?
➡️ Or did she go too far?
Drop your thoughts below 👇 Let’s talk.
#SimoneBiles #RileyGaines #WomensSports #TransRights #TitleIX #TheGOAT
