The participation of trans athletes in women’s sports remains one of the most complex and heated issues today. This is especially true in the United States, where President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14201 in February, titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.
“The radical left has waged a relentless campaign to erase the very concept of biological sex and replace it with militant transgender ideology. With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared after signing the measure—a move that raises pressing questions for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In this context, the debate is ongoing and intense. On Saturday, one of the most decorated athletes in history, Simone Biles, weighed in, defending trans athletes in response to a post by former swimmer Riley Gaines. Gaines, once a collegiate rival of Lia Thomas and now a collaborator with Turning Point USA (TPUSA)—a conservative organization focused on promoting right-wing values in American educational institutions—criticized the outcome of a high school softball championship.
“To be expected when your star player is a boy,” Gaines posted on X, referring to Champlin Park High School’s victory in the Minnesota girls’ state championship, alleging the team included a trans player.
Biles quickly responded, sparking a public clash between the two athletes. “You are miserable—this whole campaign because you lost a race. You are a bitter loser,” Biles wrote. “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 thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
The American gymnast, a 41-time Olympic and World Championship medalist, prompted a series of responses from Gaines.
“This is really, really disappointing. It’s not my job or any woman’s job to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can support men stealing championships in women’s sports with your platform. Men have no place in women’s sports, and I mean that wholeheartedly.”
‘Simone Biles championing men at the expense of young girls’ dreams?’
Her comments escalated further. “My opinion is the least controversial in the world. Simone Biles championing men at the expense of young girls’ dreams? I didn’t have that on my bingo card. Maybe I could compete on pommel horse in 2028,” she added sarcastically.
In her final responses, Gaines referenced the abuse Biles suffered at the hands of former U.S. women’s team doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 175 years in prison.
“All of the horrific sexual abuse witnessed and reported by Simone Biles was caused by a man, yet she believes women should be forced to strip in front of men to validate the man’s feelings. Do you know how many gold medals you would have if your dream of being inclusive came true? None.”
She concluded by attempting to clarify her remarks: “I hope Larry Nassar spends the rest of his life rotting in prison. The gymnasts were let down by a system that protected an abusive man at the expense of the girls’ safety.”
