Sibling of gymnast Riley Gaines discloses emotional response to Simone Biles' personal criticism
Fresh Take:
Sis Slams Simone: Riley Gaines Talks Sister's Take on Biles' Attack Against Her
The heated debate over transgender athletes in sports has reached new heights, with celebrated gymnast Riley Gaines spilling the beans about her younger sister's reaction to Olympic great Simone Biles' barrage against her.
During an episode of OutKick's "Gaines for Girls" podcast, Riley shed light on her sister's feelings as the contention over women's and girls' sports intensified.
Neely, an elite gymnast and Tennessee state champion in 2023, used to hit the gym with her elder sister for early morning sweat sessions despite her busy schedule.
Now, Simone's social media jabs have left Neely in an emotional quandary, according to Riley.
"She barely held back tears this morning, grappling with a internal conflict," Riley shared on the podcast. "She admires me a lot, much like many younger sisters do their older sisters. She's always telling me, 'I want to be just like you.' She's as fit as can be.
"...But she loves Simone Biles and she saw me this morning and she's like, 'Riley, like, I thought you guys were on the same team. I thought you and Simone were fighting for the same things and amplifying and promoting the idea of women in sports what this looks like.' And she said, 'Clearly, you guys are not.' She said it was all her gym could talk about - how horribly Simone Biles treated me and the message that she sent to those young girls."
Biles unleashed her attack on Riley as the advocate for fairness in women's sports reacted to a transgender pitcher competing in the Minnesota state softball championship.
Biles didn't shy away from airing her views on the issue, stating on X that Riley's campaign against transgender athletes "makes sports exclusive" and that she should "create a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports."
Riley clapped back at Biles' criticism, asserting that her stance was the most uncontroversial viewpoint imaginable.
*SUGGESTED READ: Transgender Athletes in Sports - An Ongoing Controversy
Ryan Gaydos, senior editor for our website Digital, delves deeper into the issue of transgender athletes in sports. Stay tuned for more insightful coverage on our platform and subscribe to our sports newsletter to keep yourself updated on all things sports.
- Neely, nervous and emotionally conflicted, finds herself torn between admiration for her older sister Riley and Olympic legend Simone Biles, given that their perspectives on transgender athletes in sports differ significantly.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding transgender athletes in sports not only involves disagreements and heated debates, but also impacts the health and well-being of athletes and their relationships, as demonstrated by the strained dynamic between Riley Gaines and Simone Biles.
