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Simone Biles and Riley Gaines recently entered into a beef over the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. Gaines, who has been protesting against the notion of transgender athletes competing against women, called out Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete, for leading Champlin Park High School to the State Softball Championships.
Following her criticism, Biles took a jab at the former swimmer, suggesting she should stop bullying transgender athletes. This did not sit well with Gaines, who had her own reply. Gaines stated that by her remarks, Biles diminished the value of her success and set a bad example for young girls looking up to her.
"Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines_," Biles wrote on X.
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Gaines countered:
"This is so disappointing. My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams? Didn’t have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028."
The incident then escalated to the extent that Biles suggested Gaines protested against transgender athletes only because she lost to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA Championships.
"You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them…One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!" she wrote.
Biles' suggestion of finding a way to promote inclusivity offended Gaines, and she dissented from the gymnast's criticism, writing:
"This is so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in w.omen's sports and I say that with my full chest."
Riley Gaines takes a jab at Simone Biles by highlighting double standards from the past
Riley Gaines called out Simone Biles by highlighting double standards from the past. Along with the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports, Gaines also protests the practice of female athletes being forced to share locker rooms with transgender athletes. Amid her clash with Biles, Gaines highlighted the sexual abuse scandal committed by Larry Nassar on the American gymnasts, a case in which Biles also spoke out.
Gaines slammed Simone Biles for speaking up against the sexual abuse, but being okay with the idea of female athletes sharing locker rooms with transgender athletes.
"All the horrific sexual abuse @Simone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings. You know how many gold medals you'd have if your 'inclusive' dream came true? Zero," she wrote.
Gaines started advocating for the cause after she and Lia Thomas tied for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle, and only the latter was awarded the trophy.
