Riley Gaines talks public's reaction to Simone Biles' personal attack: 'Almost feel bad for her'
Riley Gaines suggested on Monday in a radio interview that she was stunned by the public's response to Simone Biles' personal attack against her.
The Olympic great launched into Gaines with a post responding to the former NCAA swimmer criticizing Minnesota softball officials for turning comments off of a post celebrating a high school's state championship win with a transgender player on the team.
Biles called Gaines "truly sick" among other things. But the social media reaction didn't appear to get behind the gold medalist.
"To acknowledge how the public has shifted to this, look at Simone Biles' comments section, go on Instagram, go on Twitter, go on any article that's being posted, go on TikTok and she is getting absolutely demolished to the point where I almost feel bad for her, like I really do," Gaines said on "Clay & Buck."
"I have read these comments, I'm like, 'oh my gosh.' I was prepared when I got that notification on my phone for that onslaught of hatred to come towards me. I was like, 'Oh gosh, she's gonna send all of her little minion people who follow her over to my page.' That is not at all what is happening. I haven't heard a single negative comment about myself following this interaction."
Gaines pointed out the recent spate of transgender athletes winning championships in girls' sports across the country.
"Minnesota, California, Washington, Oregon and Maine, where boys stole state qualifying spots, state championships or podium spots from deserving, hard-working girls," the OutKick contributor added. "So, the whole 'it doesn't really happen' argument, it can't stand at all when it continues to happen.
"But that's the classic progression. It never really happened — that was step one. Then it slowly shifts to, 'OK, well, it is happening, but it's not happening a lot, therefore we shouldn't be concerned.' Then it progresses to, 'OK, well, it's happening, and here's why it's a good thing.' And then the final stage of it is, 'it's happening, it's a good thing, and you're going to accept it — or else."
Gaines revealed the support her stance on transgender athletes in women's and girls' sports received in various comments' sections during an episode of the "Gaines for Girls" podcast.
Biles has not reacted since her first post toward Gaines on Friday.
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Summer McIntosh breaks world record in 200m individual medley
Summer McIntosh broke the world record in the 200m individual medley, giving her the fastest time in history in three different long course swimming events. McIntosh, a triple 2024 Olympic gold medalist, clocked 2 minutes, 5.70 seconds on Monday at the Canadian trials for the World Championships in Singapore in July and August. Advertisement She broke the world record of 2:06.12 set by Hungarian Katinka Hosszu at the 2015 World Championships, the third-longest standing world record in women's long course (50-meter pool) swimming. McIntosh, 18, was previously the third-fastest 200m IMer in history thanks to her 2:06.56 to win Paris Olympic gold. With Monday's time, she passed American Ariana Kukors, who swam 2:06.15 at the 2009 Worlds, and Hosszu. McIntosh also owns world records in the 400m IM (set in 2024) and the 400m freestyle (reclaimed from Australian Ariarne Titmus last Saturday). On Sunday, she swam the third-fastest 800m free in history, trailing only Katie Ledecky's top two times. She also owns the second-fastest time in history in the 200m butterfly. Advertisement For this season's worlds, McIntosh said she plans to swim five individual events: her three Olympic gold-medal events — both IMs, 200m fly — plus the 400m free and one of the 200m free, 200m backstroke or 800m free. Michael Phelps is the only swimmer to win five individual golds at a single worlds, doing so in 2007 to set the table for repeating the feat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he also won three relay golds for eight total. Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Day One Ariarne Titmus: 'I know that the LA Olympics will be my last' Ariarne Titmus won two swimming gold medals for Australia at Tokyo 2020 and at Paris 2024.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
T.J. Oshie, US Olympic star in Sochi and Capitals Stanley Cup champion, announces he's retiring
'My only contribution was that this could be a good day and place to have (the ceremony),' Oshie said, adding, 'I can't thank the Caps enough. Another first-class move by them to have my retirement here, invite all the people out. It really made this day special.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The announcement had been expected for quite some time, with Oshie's contract expiring. The 38-year-old did not play this past season because of a nagging back injury that sidelined him off and on, going on long-term injured reserve instead. Advertisement Oshie said in the spring of 2024 he would only return to the Capitals if he found a permanent solution or fix to the issue. His final game was at home on April 28 last year against the Rangers, a 4-2 loss in the first round that eliminated Washington in a sweep. Advertisement 'I was fully prepared that could be my last game: I got the pictures taken of me taking off the skates to prove it,' Oshie said. 'I hadn't thought too much about [the end], honestly, besides that moment. Even before that moment, knowing how tough it was on really the whole team with me, what I was going through, actually saying the words out loud at the podium with my family in front of me and the Caps organization, my teammates, all my close friends, it was emotional.' T.J. Oshie helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018. John Locher/Associated Press Taken 24th in the 2005 draft by the Blues, Oshie played 1,116 regular-season and playoff games in the league with the Blues and Capitals since making his debut in 2008. He had 336 goals and 428 assists for 764 points, including 21 points during Washington's Cup run. Oshie made an international name for himself at the Olympics, earning the nickname 'T.J. Sochi' for going 4 for 6 in shootout attempts against Sergei Bobrovsky during the US-Russia preliminary round game in that tournament. US Olympic coach Dan Bylsma figured one game would go to a shootout, hence the choice of bringing Oshie. Bylsma kept going back to him over and over. 'T.J. had been on fire that season in the shootout, and with the scouting report on Bobrovsky we felt T.J. would have a great chance against him,' Bylsma told The Associated Press by text message Monday. 'Even when he didn't score, he had beaten Bob with his move, so we kept rolling with him.' USA forward T.J. Oshie (right) prepares to take a shot against Russia goaltender Sergei Bobrovski during a shootout at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Julio Cortez/Associated Press In the NHL, his biggest impact came after he was traded from the Blues to the Capitals in 2015. Oshie took on an immediate leadership role as a key addition to the core of Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Carlson, helping the team make the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons in the nation's capital. Advertisement 'I'll be the first to give credit to my teammates, because without them, I was nowhere near good enough to do it without a group like that,' Oshie said. Oshie's 76 power-play goals with the Capitals are the fifth most in franchise history. He scored 49 times in the shootout, tied for third all time since it was implemented in 2005. 'I like to think that when I was playing, that I was playing for my teammates, for my coaches, for my family, for my fans. I rarely thought about my own accolades,' Oshie said. 'To be remembered [as a 'warrior' type of player] is a huge honor because that was my goal and the way I played the game.' (AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Sunrise, Florida, contributed to this report.)
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
3-sport athlete at Maple Grove proves benefits of cross-training heading into 8th state tournament
It's state tournament season right now, and one Maple Grove, Minnesota, track athlete is hoping to lead her relay team to school history in the track and field state tournament. But she's already proven she's a standout, making it to eight state tournaments in three different sports. "The second I stepped on the track, I wanted to keep coming every day," said Abbey Oakland, senior relay distance runner at Maple Grove High School. Running distance is the best fit for Oakland, as it not only feeds her competitive spirit, but it also feeds into her training for the other sports she plays, like soccer. "In the fall [for soccer season], I was always super fit and ready from track, and I just think that helped a lot," said Oakland. Then in the winter, she switches gears again to hockey. "It just makes me excited for each season, and I don't feel any burnout," said Oakland. Being a three-sport athlete is something rare these days, especially for Oakland, who has gone to the Minnesota State High School League state tournament in each of her sports. "It helps me be very versatile," said Oakland. "I just feel like I see the sports from a wider angle." Oakland's distance coach, Hannah Hempe, sees big benefits from that versatility in her athletes. "Running, it can be the same thing over and over. How you approach a race might have some of the same strategies, so she hears so many different strategies both in soccer and hockey about how to approach competition," said Hempe. The Maple Grove Crimson girls relay runners now have their sights set on a first for the school, breaking into the state's top three finishers. "We'll be right in there with them, and I know all the girls in my relay will battle until the end," said Oakland. "I know [her relay teammates] would love to leave Abbey [the only senior] on that note with that top three finish," said Hempe. The track and field state tournament begins Thursday.
