Simone Biles’ big night at the 2025 ESPYs included a wink to the recent social media debate about trans athletes in sports involving the decorated Olympian.
When Biles, 28, took to the Dolby Theatre stage in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 16, to collect her award for Best Championship Performance, she started by acknowledging her fellow nominees.
“That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles said with a laugh, which earned a big reaction from the crowd.
Biles triumphed over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, basketball star Stephen Curry and golfer Rory McIlroy to take home the ESPY trophy.
It was easy to connect the dots between Biles’ comment to her back-and-forth with former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines about trans athletes last month.
The dust-up started when Gaines, 25, alleged a Minnesota high school softball team won the state championship because their “star player is a boy.”
“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,” Biles responded via X. “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!!”
Biles continued, “But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
Since ending her swimming career at the University of Kentucky, Gaines has become an advocate for keeping trans women out of sports in recent years. In 2022, Gaines competed against Lia Thomas, the first openly trans woman champion in the NCAA women’s division.In a separate, Biles called on Gaines to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Days after their social media back-and-forth went viral and sparked conversation, Biles extended an olive branch.
“I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport,” Biles wrote via X. “The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”
She continued, “These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect.”
Biles, who also won Best Athlete – Women’s Sports at the 2025 ESPYs, said she was “honored” to receive the award for Championship Performance.
“The recognition means more than you guys know,” she said during her speech. “I would like to thank the people that have stood with me on this journey — my teammates, my competitors, my coaches, family and fans who have lifted me up every step of the way. I wouldn’t be standing here without all of you.”
Biles concluded her speech by saying, “I believe in the power of sport, the power of us and, of course, the power of she.”
