USA Today sports columnist Nancy Armour faced significant backlash this weekend for a column defending Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles after Biles launched a personal social media attack on Riley Gaines. The piece, which argued that there was no scientific evidence supporting the claim that transgender women athletes have a physical advantage over cisgender women, sparked fierce criticism, especially in light of a recent poll indicating strong public support for barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.
The backlash was swift and intense, with many criticizing Armour for amplifying the controversy and failing to acknowledge the majority sentiment in favor of excluding transgender athletes. The column, which came shortly after Biles attacked Gaines on social media, framed the debate as a clash between a ‘hero for the transgender community’ and a ‘bully’ for her stance on women’s sports. This framing has only intensified public polarization over the issue, with both Biles and Gaines continuing their public feud.
Biles, who has been vocal about her opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, accused Gaines of being a ‘sore loser’ for losing a race and urged her to ‘uplift the trans community.’ In response, Gaines called Biles a ‘male-apologist’ and suggested she might compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028, poking fun at Biles’ athletic background. The exchange has highlighted the deepening divide over the issue, with the AP-NOR, poll reinforcing that most Americans support barring transgender athletes from women’s sports, according to the survey results.
As the issue continues to dominate the sports discourse, the debate over transgender athlete inclusion remains a contentious topic, with both sides framing the controversy as a matter of protecting women’s sports. The column and associated social media attacks have further amplified the issue, with public sentiment firmly divided along ideological lines.