Danica Patrick Backs Riley Gaines in Feud with Simone Biles Over Trans Inclusion in Women’s Sports

Retired racing star Danica Patrick has added her voice to the growing chorus of support for activist Riley Gaines in her ongoing feud with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

In a post on Instagram over the weekend, Patrick, 43, praised Gaines for what she described as “courageous” advocacy and criticized those supporting trans women competing in women’s sports, calling the position “irrational.”

“This issue has a shelf life. I truly believe common sense will prevail,” Patrick wrote. “But until then, I am grateful for people like Riley Gaines who are making sure no one gets away with it. Not to mention the fact that she actually lived it.”

Patrick’s comments come amid a highly publicized social media dispute between Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who has become a vocal critic of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, and Simone Biles, the seven-time Olympic medalist and global gymnastics icon.

The tension between the two erupted after Biles criticized Gaines in a tweet, calling her a “sore loser” and accusing her of using a personal loss to a transgender athlete as fuel for what Biles saw as a broader anti-trans agenda. “You lost one race and made it your whole personality,” Biles reportedly wrote, igniting a firestorm of reactions across social media.

In response, Patrick didn’t hold back.

“Defending men in women’s sports is the woke mind virus and/or another issue that requires therapy,” she continued in her Instagram post. “Either way, it is so irrational.”

A Cultural Flashpoint

The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports has become one of the most hot-button issues in American culture, sparking heated debate among athletes, politicians, and the public alike.

Riley Gaines has positioned herself as a leading figure in that debate, testifying before congressional committees and launching advocacy campaigns that argue trans women should not be allowed to compete against cisgender women in elite-level competition. Supporters claim her message is about fairness and preserving opportunities for female athletes, while critics accuse her of stoking division and targeting a vulnerable minority group.

Simone Biles, who has been a vocal advocate for mental health and social justice issues throughout her career, has largely stayed out of the political fray — until now.

By jumping into the conversation and publicly criticizing Gaines, Biles has found herself squarely at the center of a national debate, with both support and backlash flooding her mentions.

A Deepening Divide

Danica Patrick’s endorsement of Gaines’ stance reflects a broader cultural divide in American sports and politics. Supporters of Gaines and Patrick have framed the debate as a fight for fairness in women’s sports, while Biles’ defenders argue that trans inclusion is a matter of equality and compassion.

Patrick, known for breaking barriers as the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing, is no stranger to controversy. Since retiring from competition, she has become more vocal in her commentary on cultural issues, frequently using her platform to advocate for what she sees as “common sense” positions.

Her latest remarks suggest a hardening stance within some corners of the athletic community against trans participation in women’s competitions — a stance that is being increasingly amplified ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections and beyond.

The Broader Implications

With both women serving as role models to millions — Biles in gymnastics and Patrick in motorsports — their conflicting views spotlight the generational and ideological fault lines running through American sports.

The U.S. continues to grapple with how to reconcile gender identity with competitive fairness. Meanwhile, athletes like Riley Gaines and Simone Biles remain lightning rods for a national conversation that shows no signs of slowing down.

As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: the issue has transcended athletics, becoming a cultural battleground with profound implications for sports, politics, and the next generation of athletes.