Riley Gaines Attacks Trans Athlete, Weaponizes Biles’ Trauma

When Simone Biles speaks, the world listens. And this week, the Olympic icon had time. A heated exchange unfolded online between Biles and right-wing anti-trans activist Riley Gaines after Gaines again targeted transgender athletes — this time a high school softball player.

It started when Gaines posted:

“Another state championship hijacked by a team with a boy. ‘Marissa’ Rothenberger pitched 7 shutout innings to lead Champlin Park to a 6-0 win in the Minnesota Girls’ State Softball Championship. You’re a shameful coward, @GovTimWalz.”

The post, which targeted Rothenberger and attacked Minnesota’s governor, drew sharp responses across social media. Among them was Simone Biles, who did not mince words:

“Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male,” Biles replied.

But she didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, Biles dismantled Gaines’ long-running campaign against trans inclusion in sports:

“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 athletes feel safe. Maybe a transgender category in ALL sports!!
But instead… You bully them.
One thing’s for sure: no one in sports is safe with you around!”

Riley Gaines Weaponizes Biles’ Trauma

Rather than engage in good faith, Gaines responded by posting on X a cynical message followed by a clip of Biles’ congressional testimony, in which the gymnast detailed how USA Gymnastics failed to protect her and other athletes from serial predator Larry Nassar, who is now serving a hard time.

“All the horrific sexual abuse

@Simone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man’s feelings. You know how many gold medals you’d have if your “inclusive” dream came true? Zero.”

It was a cynical attempt to weaponize Biles’ own trauma in service of Gaines’ anti-trans narrative — and it backfired with many who saw the move as cruel and manipulative.

Riley Gaines later followed up with a prepared statement:

“I hope Larry Nassar rots in prison. Gymnasts were failed by a system that protected an abusive man.
Men don’t belong in women’s sports. Female athletes are being failed again.”

What’s Really Happening Here

Let’s be clear: No transgender woman is Larry Nassar.
No transgender athlete is a predator by default.

Biles’ point — and the one Riley Gaines refused to acknowledge — is that bullying trans athletes, often the most vulnerable competitors in any field, is not about fairness or safety. It’s about using fear to justify exclusion.

And using a survivor’s trauma as a political weapon? That’s beyond the pale.

At Black Wall Street Times, we stand with Biles — and with all athletes fighting for inclusion, dignity, and respect in every arena.