Danica Patrick has thrown her support behind Riley Gaines in the ongoing feud between the former swimmer and Simone Biles over transgender athletes
Danica Patrick has become embroiled in the heated exchange between Riley Gaines and Simone Biles over transgender athletes, ultimately expressing support for the former competitive swimmer.
The clash between Gaines and the celebrated Olympic champion escalated after Gaines took a swipe at the Minnesota State High School League for disabling comments on a social media post celebrating Champlin Park High School’s girls’ softball team’s victory on Friday.
Gaines lashed out at hurtful comments made against the team, which includes a transgender athlete, after their state championship win. Olympic champion Biles fired back in strong defense, posting on X: “You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser.
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“You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports more inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category in ALL SPORTS!
“But instead… You bully them…” Biles added, taking a firm stand against Gaines’s approach. “One thing for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!”
In a follow-up post, Biles hit out at outspoken critic Gaines once more, saying: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Gaines has been vocally opposed to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, gaining attention after she tied for fifth place with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 200m freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
Gaines labeled the gymnast’s position on the issue as “so disappointing” and Patrick echoed this sentiment, criticizing the “woke mind virus” she believes is rampant in women’s sports.
On Instagram, the ex-race car driver expressed her views: “This issue has a shelf life. I truly believe common sense will prevail. But until then, I am grateful for people like Riley Gaines who are making sure no-one gets away with it.
“Not to mention that fact that she actually lived it. Defending men in women’s sports is the woke mind virus and/or another issue that requires therapy. Either way, it is so irrational.”
Meanwhile, Gaines issued a fresh response to Biles on social media as she posted a video on social media to measure her height, which was proven to be 5ft 5 inches.
Gaines also stood alongside her husband Louis Barker, posting: ” Figured I would whip out a tape measure to settle this debate.
“Wikipedia says I’m 5-foot-9. Simone Biles, yesterday, told me to bully someone my own size and then said: ‘’Ironically, that would be a man.’
“Number one, acknowledging there are differences between men and women, number two, this is my 6-foot-4 husband.”