What did Riley Gaines say? Former swimmer doubles down on invoking Larry Nassar’s name during Simone Biles debate

The ongoing controversy surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports took a personal turn last week as former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines referenced disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar while squaring off with Olympic champion Simone Biles.

Gaines, an outspoken critic of allowing transgender inclusion in women’s sports, defended herself against backlash by referencing Nassar — an incarcerated serial sexual abuser, by claiming that transgender women in women's sports constitutes a form of “sexual abuse.”

According to Teen Vogue, Riley Gaines ignited the brawl when she criticized a Minnesota high school softball team for having a transgender player, saying their state championship win was unfair.

"Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy." She wrote in a X post.

Simone Biles, who has long been an advocate for mental health and inclusivity, hit back on social media, accusing Gaines of being a “sore loser” and asking her to bully someone her own size.

"You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race... You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive... But instead… You bully them…" Biles wrote on X.

Gaines further escalated the feud by sharing video of Biles’ 2021 Senate testimony on Larry Nassar’s abuse with her own comments about transgender athletes, aiming to highlight what she perceived as a contradiction.

"Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men," Gaines captioned the video.

More about Simone Biles apology as Riley Gaines defends her remarks

On The Stephen A. Smith Show, Riley Gaines doubled down on her comments, claiming that she was comparing Nassar’s abuse to her experience competing against Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer.

"I stand by what I said a hundred percent, But let me provide a little context. First of all, for clarity, I believe Larry Nassar is a monster who should spend every single waking second for the rest of his life miserable and rotting away in prison." She said.

Larry Nassar was arrested in 2016 on child p**nography charges which he pleaded guilty to and was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He also faced prosecution on multiple counts of s*xual abuse, including on minors, two against girls aged 13 to 15 and one against a child under 13. Nassar also pleaded guilty in those cases and was sentenced to prison for 40 to 175 years (US Weekly).

Riley Gaines said that while Nassar’s crimes were far more grave, she feels that the inclusion of transgender athletes puts women in similar uncomfortable situations.

"Does it get more perverted than standing in the shower, totally undressed, when a six-foot-four man approaches you, stands in the shower head next to you... To me, that is sexual abuse." She remarked.

Simone Biles initially rejected Riley Gaines’ claim, but on June 10, she issued a partial apology for attacking her instead of having a proper debate. But still, she continued to stand firm in her position that transgender youth should not be publicly vilified.

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"I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles... And it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for." Biles wrote.

For now, Both sides appear to have upheld their strong views with no apparent middle ground. But according to online critics, bringing Nassar into this debate has only caused more controversy.

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