Simone Biles has become a part of a heated debate after facing former swimmer and conservative opinion leader Riley Gaines in a TV interview.
Everything began when everyone thought it would be a festive occasion. Champlin Park’s softball team’s win at the Class AAAA State Championship was featured proudly by the Minnesota State High School League.
Although Draymond tried to spread positivity, his message caused debate and finally led to a fierce internet clash between the sports teams.
Riley Gaines brings up controversial issues.
Riley Gaines, an ex-NCAA swimmer and OutKick columnist, doesn’t like to hide her feelings about transgender athletes.
Last Friday, the Minnesota State High School League took to their social media to praise Champlin Park’s softball team for their Class AAAA State Championship. Even so, Riley Gaines, a believer that transgender women ought not to compete in women’s sports, caused a stir with her comment.
Commenting is not allowed here. It’s understandable since the main contender for first place is a boy.
Meet Champlin Park, the Class AAAA Softball State Champion for 2025. pic.twitter.com/u2S59c9QSS
— Minnesota State High School League (@MSHSL) June 6, 2025
Meet the current State Class AAAA Softball Champion for 2025, Champlin Park.
The conclusion of this year’s golf season was announced by the Minnesota State High School League (@MSHSL).
This comment made me lash out right away. People alleged that she insulted the team and aimed her comments at a transgender player, but no names were shared in the post.
Simone Biles speaks up in response
Simone Biles wasn’t going to accept what they were telling her. The most decorated gymnast in history replied to Gaines in a quote-tweet.
“@Riley_Gaines_ Your campaigning is disgusting, considering you rejected the results of a race you entered. He behaves like a classic sore loser.
She accomplished more than what is mentioned here. She continued by claiming that Gaines was harsh towards transgender athletes instead of promoting acceptance. “If you truly cared, you would be trying to ensure all the categories are safe and fair,” said Biles. You are just creating more challenges for everyone.
There is a huge increase in social media activity.
Biles’ comments caused the internet to split into divided groups.
Many supporters applauded her when she made her point.
It shows true leadership. I am grateful that you are standing by Simone and everyone supporting her,” said a fan.
A fan commented on Biles: ”I didn’t think it could be possible, but now I can respect you even more. You are just simply the greatest!”
At the same time, the opposition grew just as strong.
I am greatly disappointed to see this answer because it is so hard to believe. […] You shouldn’t call Riley a bully, as an Olympian & role model, because your words are very unkind to her, one person noted.
So disappointed by this, another person commented. It is so simple to sabotage the sport for females once leaving, so that women after you cannot achieve what you were able to do.
Some people were annoyed by the course and expressed it strongly. A user said, “In no time, you are no longer seen as a role model for young girls,” while another person wrote, “It’s sad to see how things have changed for you Simone.” Very sad….”
He responds to Greenberg – yet again
Gaines did not hold back and published a lengthy response on Instagram. She stated that Biles made the problem personal by using “body shaming” and writing a tweet, referring to the now-deleted tweet.
You should never bully Riley, because Riley looks just like you and has the same legal rights.
Gaines mentioned that Biles was once criticized for her muscular body by internet trolls — and now to be making light of a body, despite her own struggles.
A fight over morals
What’s really going on isn’t a simple tweet or back-and-forth; instead, it’s a bigger discussion in the country about transgender people in women’s sports.
As a 12-time All-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky, Gaines now acts as a leading advocate for fairness and the safety of women in sports. After Lia Thomas and she won the same NCAA swimming race in 2022, she realized how much the law affects transgender rights.
After that, she has appeared before Congress, teamed up with groups advocating for legal rights, and became a constant presence in Title IX discussions. Her fans consider her to be a protector of women’s rights. Many people criticize her for keeping artists out of the music industry.
A retired NFL player came out against Simone Biles.
For years, Simone Biles mostly avoided getting involved in political controversies — but now she has. Lots of people are surprised by her decision, as they saw her as someone who always avoided taking sides. Some may see this as clear leadership, as she is giving voice to people who are not heard.
Some well-known people are now joining the discussion about whether Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is right or wrong to protest on social media.
Charges were leveled by former NFL kicker-politician Jay Feely when he claimed that Biles wouldn’t have won any Olympic medals against transgender athletes. Hill also stated that her support for having transgender athletes in women’s sports puts biological females in dangerous situations.
Danica Patrick, a past NASCAR driver, supported the Gaines situation as well. On social media, she said Biles was manipulated and pointed out that people sometimes call this being “red pilled.”
For Patrick, the issue would eventually go away: “This problem has a limited lifespan.” I strongly believe that common sense will take over. But for now, I am glad there is someone like Riley Gaines to call out those using transgender inclusion unfairly,” her caption said on Instagram.
It’s worth adding that she lived the events she described. Defending men playing in women’s sports is an example of woke thinking and something that calls for therapy. In any case, it is simply not logical.
Whether you support this or not, we can’t deny the fact that this conflict goes beyond social media. It is a sign of the bigger, emotionally intense struggle over who we are, fairness, and what’s to come in sports.
Because Simone Biles and Morgan Hurd are such big competitors, the discussion is only heating up.
