Celebration Turns Controversial
What began as a celebratory moment turned into a heated debate.
The Minnesota State High School League shared a congratulatory photo of Champlin Park’s softball team after winning the Class AAAA State Championship. But controversy erupted when former NCAA swimmer and activist Riley Gaines commented: “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.” Though no names were mentioned, critics saw it as a targeted jab at a transgender athlete.
Simone Biles Responds
Olympic champion Simone Biles fired back on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser.” Biles continued, accusing Gaines of bullying rather than advocating: “If you really cared, you’d be working on creating safe and fair categories.”
Divided Reactions Online
The exchange split public opinion. Supporters applauded Biles: “This is real leadership. Thank you for standing up, Simone,” one fan said. Another wrote, “You are just truly a class act! 100% of the time.” But critics were harsh: “And just like that, you are no longer a role model for little girls,” one person posted. Some accused Biles of disrespect, and others warned she was alienating future female athletes.
Broader Debate Intensifies
Gaines responded, accusing Biles of “body shaming” in a now-deleted tweet: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines.” The conflict highlights a larger issue — the national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. Public figures like Jay Feely and Danica Patrick backed Gaines, with Patrick calling Biles “red pilled.” As the conversation grows, it’s clear this goes beyond a single tweet — it’s part of a deep, ongoing cultural divide.
