Simone Biles Claps Back at Riley Gaines Over Trans Athlete Softball Controversy

In a fiery exchange that’s igniting debate across sports and social media, Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles has taken aim at former NCAA swimmer and outspoken activist Riley Gaines after Gaines criticized a high school girls’ softball team for including a transgender athlete in its championship win.

Gaines, known for her staunch stance against trans inclusion in women’s sports, didn’t hold back. Reacting to the team’s victory, she posted:

“Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams? Didn’t have that on my bingo card.”

The comment was a direct jab at Biles, who had previously expressed support for inclusion and fairness in athletics without sacrificing compassion.

Sources close to Biles say the champion was “deeply disappointed” by Gaines’ remark, and she responded not with silence, but with strength.

“Uplifting young people should never come at the cost of tearing others down,” Biles said in a tweet. “I will always stand for what’s right — even when it’s not easy.”

The clash marks another flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about transgender athletes and the future of women’s sports. While Gaines continues to advocate for what she calls “biological fairness,” critics accuse her of weaponizing gender identity for political and cultural gain.

Supporters of Biles, meanwhile, have praised her for defending inclusion and modeling empathy on and off the field — a stance that aligns with her broader legacy of using her platform to speak truth to power.

As the debate intensifies, one thing is clear: the battle over who gets to play — and who gets to define fairness — is far from over.