Former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly criticized USA Today columnist Nancy Armour for defending Olympic gymnast Simone Biles during a heated feud. The conflict escalated after Biles personally attacked Gaines, leading to a public exchange where Gaines accused Armour of being discriminatory against girls in sports.
In a recent episode of her podcast “Gaines for Girls,” Gaines dismissed Armour’s arguments, calling her “insufferable” and accusing her of undermining the rights of girls in sports. The feud began when B’tiles criticized Gaines for opposing the inclusion of transgender athletes in certain competitions, sparking a broader debate about fairness and inclusivity in sports. The debate has drawn attention from notable figures like tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who has also spoken out in favor of fair competition in women’s sports.
Gaines took issue with Armour’s claim that there is “no scientific evidence that transgender women athletes have a physical advantage over cisgender women athletes,” arguing that such statements are misleading and lack factual basis. “Do they realize how stupid this sounds? How infactual it is, how utterly incorrect it is to say that men don’t possess a physical advantage on average over women,” Gaines questioned during the podcast.
The controversy started over the weekend when Biles went after Gaines over the former collegiate athlete’s opposition to a transgender high school softball player winning the state championship in Minnesota. Biles accused Gaines of being a “bully” for her fight to protect women’s and girls’ sports, saying she should be “uplifting the trans community” instead of opposing inclusivity policies.
Gaines responded to Biles’ attack by calling her “a male-apologist” and suggesting she could compete in certain events in the future, indicating a level of personal animosity. The ongoing feud has sparked a wider discussion about the role of gender in sports and the balance between inclusivity and traditional competition standards.
As the debate continues, it highlights the growing tensions in the sports community regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes and the need for equitable policies. The discourse has implications for the future of sports, particularly as more athletes and advocates continue to challenge existing norms and push for change.