Alright, let’s break this down because what started as a tweet turned into a political firestorm faster than you can say “Olympic gold.”
Over the weekend, gymnastics legend Simone Biles dove headfirst into the most polarizing debate in sports today—transgender participation in women’s athletics—and she did it with the grace of a beam dismount and the bite of a clapback.
Biles didn’t hold back when responding to Riley Gaines, the outspoken former NCAA swimmer known for her vocal opposition to trans women competing against biological females. Biles called Gaines a “bully” and suggested, sarcastically, that Gaines might better focus on creating new inclusive categories in sports instead of targeting trans athletes.
And, just like that, the internet exploded.
Gaines didn’t take it lightly. In classic social media judo, she dug up a 2017 post from Biles that appeared to take a different stance on the issue. That move lit a fresh fire under the discussion, drawing in a mix of support, outrage, and everything in between from fans, pundits, and—yes—politicians.
Enter Jay Feely. You might remember him as an NFL kicker. Now, he’s a congressional hopeful in Arizona, and he’s not mincing words. Feely accused Biles of betraying Title IX, claiming her stance puts biological girls in “dangerous, compromising situations.”
In fact, he went so far as to say Biles wouldn’t have medaled if she’d had to compete against trans athletes. That’s a bold—and controversial—statement to make about one of the most dominant athletes in history. But it didn’t stop there.
Feely’s comments were echoed by Danica Patrick, former NASCAR driver and public firebrand, who accused Biles of being “red-pilled”—but in reverse.
Patrick argued that defending trans participation in women’s sports is irrational and likened it to a “woke mind virus.” Yep, the kind of language that doesn’t just stir the pot—it flips it off the stove.
All of this stems from Gaines’ original post criticizing a Minnesota girls’ baseball team that won a title with a transgender pitcher. Gaines’ commentary—“your star player is a boy”—was enough to ignite the Twitter battlefield, and Biles’ reply turned it into a full-on war.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a celebrity spat. It’s a collision between elite athletics, gender identity, politics, and cultural values. And it’s playing out in real-time, with Olympic champions and political hopefuls shaping the narrative.
As of now, Biles hasn’t issued a follow-up. But the headlines, hashtags, and hot takes aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The only certainty? This conversation is far from over—and it’s reaching way beyond the locker room.
