Simone Biles on the Wrong Side of Women’s Sports
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Key Takeaways
- Public sentiment overwhelmingly favors Riley Gaines over Simone Biles in the debate on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
- Biles faces sharp backlash for aligning with progressive gender ideology, weakening her cultural standing among online audiences.
- The Gaines–Biles feud reaffirms that women’s sports has become one of the few 80/20 political battles in 2025.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
2,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
3 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
An online scuffle between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines riles up the debate about women’s sports and bullying.
Biles' recent criticism of Gaines—who has become a vocal opponent of transgender inclusion in women’s athletics—ignites a sharp backlash online. Public sentiment among politically engaged Americans overwhelming support in Gaines’ favor.
bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines_
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025
American Sentiment
Support leans heavily in favor of Gaines and preventing transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
- 70% of reactions express criticism toward Biles, both for her stance on transgender athletes and the perception of hypocritical bullying.
- 70% support or defend Riley Gaines, aligning with her desire to protect women.
- 25% link the debate to issues of fairness, trans rights, and cultural decay.
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The numbers suggest this topic resonates deeply with Americans who are becoming more vocal about women’s sports. The reactions align with previous MIG Reports data showing this as a strong, bipartisan issue.
Gaines as Defender of Fairness
Riley Gaines increasingly emerges as the face of athletic fairness. Her advocacy resonates because it comes from within the system. As a former collegiate swimmer forced to compete against trans-identifying male athletes, Gaines channels firsthand frustration into a broader argument that women are under siege by political ideologues who conflate inclusion with equity.
Online commentary describes Gaines as principled, courageous, and grounded. She is viewed as a key figure defending women. In these discussions, Gaines becomes a symbol of resistance to institutional capture. Critics, largely from progressive or legacy media circles, view her as controversial, calling her names and criticizing her swimming record.
Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 7, 2025
Vs
Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men pic.twitter.com/8p9D51seYr
Biles Becoming a Political Lightning Rod
As a decorated Olympic athlete, Simone Biles has long been praised by all Americans. Her achievements are undeniable. But she has also drawn criticism for some of her actions as an athlete, and now for her foray into the gender policy debate. Her criticism of Gaines—however subtle—has triggered a rapid shift in how many on the right view her.
Among the 70% of critical posts, recurring sentiments include:
- “Stick to gymnastics”
- “Biles sold out fairness for woke points”
- “It’s hypocritical to bully Riley for looking ‘manly’”
- “Biles is closing the door behind her, now that her success if over”
- “Mental health retreat now looks like moral retreat”
The backlash underscores a growing impatience with celebrities who use their fame to enter divisive cultural debates, only to fall back on their accomplishments when challenged.
Here’s Simone Biles competing against a male gymnast and getting absolutely humiliated.
— Based Bandita (@MissVega8888) June 7, 2025
Is she sure she’s ok with men in women’s sports? pic.twitter.com/f3XvzSOH3U
Transgender Policy Versus Women’s Rights
This is not an isolated controversy. It’s a node in a larger clash over values. The redefinition of sex-based rights and the scope of government and media power is an ongoing debate.
Those defending Gaines consistently tie her cause to:
- Title IX preservation
- Fair competition
- Parental and women’s rights
- Valid pushback against coercive woke ideology
Her critics often deflect by elevating emotional or identity-based claims—an approach that increasingly fails to persuade a public which demands clarity and boundaries.
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The Media's Role and Narrative Distortion
Legacy outlets largely ignore Gaines or cast her as divisive. Biles, meanwhile, receives soft coverage, often framed as a mental health icon rather than a political actor. This contrast fuels online perceptions that media elites protect their ideological allies and punish dissenters.
Among voters, this double standard reinforces a broader belief that the media no longer reports truth but serves a progressive agenda. Americans increasingly form opinions based on direct observation and peer discourse, not editorial framing.
Implications for the Political Right
Riley Gaines offers the GOP and the conservative movement a potent cultural figure who blends traditional values with youthful clarity. She’s articulate, morally grounded, and focused. Republicans looking to engage young voters—especially women—should see in her a strategic ally.
Simone Biles, once considered apolitical, now functions as a cautionary tale. Many feel that any number of medals cannot shield someone from public critique when they endorse policies that voters see as harmful. The right no longer defers to celebrity consensus.
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