Olympic champion Simone Biles ignited a firestorm of criticism after publicly attacking Riley Gaines, a women’s sports advocate, for opposing biological males in female athletics—exposing a rift that has fellow Olympians questioning whose side she’s really on.
Story Snapshot
- Simone Biles called Riley Gaines “truly sick” and a “sore loser” on X for advocating against transgender athletes in women’s sports
- Gaines’ activism stems from tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, an event Biles dismissed as mere competitive jealousy
- Olympic silver medalist MyKayla Skinner Harmer publicly backed Gaines, criticizing Biles for dismissing legitimate fairness concerns in women’s competition
- The clash highlights growing tensions between celebrity athletes and those fighting to preserve competitive integrity for biological women in sports
Biles’ Attack on Women’s Sports Advocate Backfires
Simone Biles, gymnastics’ most decorated athlete with seven Olympic golds and thirty world medals, launched a personal attack on Riley Gaines after the former NCAA swimmer criticized a Minnesota high school athletic league post celebrating state champions. Biles told Gaines to “bully someone your own size which ironically would be a male,” framing Gaines’ advocacy for biological women as sore-loser behavior. The comment referenced Gaines’ fifth-place tie with Lia Thomas, a biological male, at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships—an experience that transformed Gaines into a leading voice against males competing in women’s sports.
Fellow Olympian Breaks Ranks to Defend Fairness
MyKayla Skinner Harmer, who won Olympic silver on vault in 2020 after Biles withdrew from competition, publicly rebuked her former teammate’s stance. Harmer told CBN News it was “deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser'” for defending competitive fairness. Harmer emphasized that true competition should elevate athletes rather than diminish those advocating for women’s rights in sports. Her intervention carries particular weight given the personal history between the two gymnasts, adding credibility to concerns that Biles prioritizes celebrity activism over protecting female athletes.
The Growing Divide Between Elite Athletes and Everyday Competitors
The controversy underscores a troubling pattern where celebrity athletes with Hollywood agents and NFL husbands, insulated from competitive disadvantages, dismiss concerns from women who faced direct consequences. Gaines, a twelve-time All-American swimmer, experienced firsthand what happens when biological males compete against women—losing podium recognition to Thomas despite identical finishing times. Media personality Alex Stein highlighted the irony of Biles, herself a survivor of abuse within gymnastics, engaging in what he termed “victim shaming” against another female athlete. This clash reveals how distant some elite athletes have become from the everyday realities facing women competitors at high school and collegiate levels.
Backlash Reveals Broader Frustrations With Sports Establishment
Social media erupted against Biles, with critics across the political spectrum questioning why she would attack advocates for women’s sports rather than address the underlying fairness issues. The incident fuels ongoing debates over Title IX enforcement and whether athletic governing bodies prioritize ideology over competitive integrity. Gaines has built substantial media presence through her OutKick contributions and “Gaines for Girls” podcast, gaining momentum as athletes and parents increasingly demand protection for female sports. The backlash against Biles demonstrates growing public resistance to celebrity athletes who leverage their platforms to silence rather than address legitimate concerns about fairness and safety in women’s athletics.
