Biles Defends Trans Youth and Speaks Up for Inclusion
Simone Biles is once again showing the world what strength and grace look like. This time, the Olympic champion is using her voice to stand up for transgender athletes—especially young ones.
After a former NCAA swimmer, Riley Gaines, mocked a transgender teen athlete online, Biles clapped back with purpose. Gaines had called a transgender player on a high school baseball team a “boy” and tried to discredit the team’s championship win. Biles didn’t stay silent.
“You should be uplifting the trans community… or creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports,” Biles posted on X.
The Online Feud with Riley Gaines Gets Heated
The back-and-forth between the gymnast and the ex-swimmer quickly got intense. Biles called out Gaines’s long-running attacks on transgender athletes. She didn’t hold back, calling Gaines “a sore loser” and referencing her own fifth-place tie against a trans competitor.
“You’re truly sick… all this campaigning because you lost a race,” Biles wrote.
While her response stirred the internet, Biles later reflected on her words. She admitted that going personal wasn’t the best move—even when defending what’s right.
Biles Apologizes but Stands Firm on Inclusion
On June 10, Biles followed up with a thoughtful and balanced message. She apologized for getting personal but stood by her larger point.
“I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport,” she said.
Biles pointed out that the current sports system doesn’t balance fairness and inclusion well. That, she explained, is what creates frustration—not the athletes themselves. Her message reminded everyone to focus on systems, not individuals.
Protecting Young Athletes from Hate and Harm
One of Biles’s most powerful points was about protecting young athletes from public attacks. She made it clear that minors, especially transgender ones, should not be targets of political agendas.
“Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over,” she wrote.
That message hit home for many. Biles, as the most decorated gymnast in history, knows what it’s like to be under pressure. Her voice adds weight to an ongoing conversation about how to treat athletes with respect, no matter who they are.
Simone Biles Reminds Us What Real Leadership Looks Like
Biles could have stayed quiet. Instead, she chose to speak up for a group often left out or attacked. She showed that standing up for others—even in the face of criticism—is a true mark of leadership.
Her balanced response—passionate but reflective—shows how athletes can use their platform for good. Biles reminded the world that fairness and kindness can go hand-in-hand.
And most of all, she reminded trans youth that they matter, they belong, and they deserve a safe space in sports.
