Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 11, 2025 · Entertainment

Riley Gaines Confronts Simone Biles: The Battle Over Trans Athletes and Sports Inclusivity

On Friday, Biles accused me of being a 'bully' while body shaming me by comparing my 5'5', 135-pound frame to that of a man.

SIMONE BILES' BODY SHAME EPIC FAIL: OLYMPIAN'S LEGACY IN RUINS AFTER PUBLIC FEUD WITH FEMME FATALE

The drama is real, folks! Simone Biles, the American gymnastics icon, has found herself in a heated Twitter spat with a mystery woman who dared to speak out against a Minnesota high school softball team's decision to let a male pitcher take the field. But what really got under Biles' skin was the woman's innocuous comment about the trans issue.

The unidentified female, who we'll refer to as "Riley" for the sake of this juicy exposé, had written: "To be expected when your star player is a boy." This subtle jab at the team's decision to let a male athlete compete against girls in a traditionally women's sport sent Biles into a frenzy. The Olympian fired back with a series of scathing tweets, calling Riley a bully and body-shaming her by comparing her petite frame to that of a man.

Olympian Simone Biles attempted to publicly shame me for speaking out against a Minnesota high school softball team that won a state championship.

"You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser," Biles wrote, as seen by over 60 million people on X (formerly Twitter). "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."

But what's even more shocking is that Biles, who has spoken out against body shaming in the past, seemed to forget her own struggles with negative comments about her athletic build. In 2020, she confessed on Instagram: "I'd be lying if I told you that what people say about my arms, my legs, my body... of how I look like in a dress, leotard, bathing suit or even in casual pants hasn't gotten me down at times."

Fast forward to this week, and Biles' apology to Riley on Tuesday was met with skepticism. In a statement posted to Instagram, she wrote: "I've always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles... which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges." However, this apology fell flat, as Biles still failed to acknowledge the larger issue at play.

Simone has, on multiple occasions, spoken out against body shamers and confessed that even she is not immune to negative comments about her athletic bui

A Legacy Tarnished

Simone's Twitter tantrum has left her legacy in tatters. By taking a side that's at odds with the majority of Americans, who believe men have no place in women's sports, Biles has alienated herself from her fans and fellow athletes. A New York Times poll published in January found that 79 percent of respondents – including 67 percent of Democrats – agree with this sentiment.

The bigger question on everyone's mind is: Why are female athletes like Riley forced to deal with this issue alone? Why do they have to explain why the obvious is wrong, while those who create and enforce discriminatory policies remain untouched? The answer lies in the silence of sports organizations like the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the NCAA. These groups are bound by federal law – Title IX for the NCAA and the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act for the USOPC – yet they refuse to uphold their own rules.

What Biles doesn't realize is that sports are already inclusive by nature ¿ anyone can and everyone should play sports. But to ensure fair competition, exclusion is necessary.

The Real Culprits

The real villains in this saga are not Riley or any other female athlete who dares to speak out against trans issues. No, the true culprits are those in power who have abandoned women and girls in sports. They're the ones who let policies like these discriminatory rules go unchecked, creating a toxic environment where female athletes are forced to fight for their rights.

Biles' apology was just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound. The real issue is that our lawmakers and leaders need to be held accountable for their actions – or lack thereof. As Riley so eloquently put it: "This is where Simone and I can come to an agreement: our lawmakers and our so-called leaders need to be held accountable."

A New York Times poll published in January found that 79 percent of respondents ¿ including 67 percent of Democrats ¿ believe men have no place in women's sports.

The Fight Continues

Riley has vowed to take the NCAA to court over its discriminatory policies, and we can't help but wonder if this will be a David vs. Goliath showdown. But one thing's for sure – the fight for fairness in women's sports is far from over.

As Riley so aptly put it: "Do not stand on the sidelines. Don't let the fear of backlash scare you into silence." It's time to take a stand and demand change. The future of women's sports depends on it.

TheScholarlyNote.com will continue to follow this developing story, bringing you updates and analysis as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for more drama, intrigue, and juicy tidbits from the world of sports!