Simone Biles attacks Riley Gaines

[ItsCoolForCats]

Simone Biles has come out in defence of males in women's sports, and has attacked Riley Gaines for fighting against it. She said on Twitter:

"@RileyGaines
You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!"

So, so disappointing. Both my daughters do gymnastics and are huge SB fans, so it is awful for her to show such contempt towards RG, who is fighting for a level playing field for women and girls in sport. And to suggest a separate category as if nobody has ever thought of that and tried it 🤦🏻‍♀️

And then she said this. Just awful

Whaaaat the fuck?

Biles is a nasty piece of work.

She’s an idiot. Riley Gaines is amazing and even though it’s hardly the point there are plenty of photos of her with Lia Thomas to prove she’s nowhere near his size!
Why should she be campaigning for trans people in sports, that’s really not her problem. She’s campaigning for women and girls in sport - duh

SB speaks from a point of privilege as its unlikely that a biologically male body could compete in female gymnastics successfully.

Her comment about Riley's size is horrible , I thought she'd know better after all of the negativity about female gymnasts bodies.

Why do women get to do the work for trans athletes Simone? Let them create their sports categories..oh hang on, they don’t want them, they want to take away women’s achievements, that’s the aim of the game.

...and has a Netflix docuseries out🙄

Next we need to hear Biles' views on Imane Khelif.

She didn’t speak out about Dr Nasser until it was safe to do so, even though her voice was have ended his assaults earlier. Which is ok- these things are complex. I think she envies women who are brave enough to speak out when it is not safe to do so.

Wow, that is so nasty. And what is the saying again: play the ball, not the person? Biles is demonstrating very aptly that she has no arguments why some men should be allowed to play in a sports category they are not eligble for so resorts to making fun of a womans appearance.

Bte very telling that Biles competes in a sports where sex segregation will never be undone as male hips are not made for female gymnastics, whereas Gaines lost medals to a man.

Why are women expected to fight for everyone else's rights?

If transgender people want to fight for their own category of sports they can absolutely go ahead. It's not up to women to accommodate males in their category or campaign for their rights.

Absolutely right that's she's pulling up the drawbridge now her career is over.

Also in gymnastics men's and womens are quite different, it's less like that a male trained gymnast would be able to transition and beat Simone Biles, as there's just different events. Compared to something like swimming where as a woman you've got no chance even if your top of your field. I doubt Simone would be so damming if a mediocre man had come along and beaten her

Bloody hell! Bile indeed.

Simone Biles has spoken out many times about body shaming and then body shames another athlete?!!! Shameful.

@MsTamborineMan absolutely. You only have to watch Nile Wilson attempting a women's floor routine to know that it's unlikely that even an elite man can compete.

SB speaks from a point of privilege as its unlikely that a biologically male body could compete in female gymnastics successfully.

I thought the same. How disappointing.

I’m so upset to read this, I’ve been a huge admirer of Biles.

And yes of course no biological male is going to succeed in high level female gymnastics which is why there aren’t any I guess.

Wow, that is truly nasty. From a woman who, up till now, has been such an inspiration to girls and young women. Shame on you, Simone.

Apart from the fact that it's a horrible thing to say, commenting on Riley Gaine's size makes no sense as she is 5 foot 5

So so disappinted to see this from biles. And also

She didn't say no one has thought about it. She is not saying let transwomen in women's sport. She is saying let's find a solution. Am sure Biles is reacting because Riley's comment relates to a young person and she knows her MAGA crew will be on this young person like hounds. Riley may have legitimate concerns about transwomen in women's sports but her Maganess. And Gaines is against anyone speak about how black women are sidelined in American sports (like basketball) and the privilege of white women in sports. So yeah I can understand Biles' comments front that angle

Same, as we've always cheered on SB in this house.

Here she is doing a skills comparison with a male gymnast:

The differences between the abilities of male and female bodies couldn't be more apparent, so it is astounding that she has shown such a lack of awareness of the issues RG is trying to highlight.

@NautilusLionfish black women are sidelined in basketball? Aren’t over 80% of players in the WNBA women of colour?

When has Riley spoken out against black women raising concerns about their sporting participation?

She is claiming that RG advocates for fair sport for women because she is a 'sore loser'. It's pathetic. And why is it up to RG to come up with a solution to the problem of males in women's sports? Because there is an obvious solution. Protect the female category and leave it alone, and let men and sporting bodies and the trans lobby come up with ways to make sport more inclusive for trans athletes.

What @NautilusLionfish said. Simon Biles is saying what many GC people are saying - we need to find a way for sport to be inclusive, maybe a transgender category would work. I don't personally agree with that idea but it's a completely normal one here, why is anyone kicking her for it? As a truly extraordinary champion who has experienced endless racism Biles has every right to her opinion. Gaines has a good case about Lia Thomas of course but has chosen to sign up with a full rightwing programme that I don't agree with either.

And people are understandably exasperated about SB suggesting another category for transwomen because people have been suggesting that for years, and it's been tried, but they weren't interested

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/03/swimming-world-cup-category-for-transgender-athletes-cancelled-after-no-entries-received