In a heated public exchange that has cast a shadow over the national debate over the participation of walkers in sports, Olympic champion Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaispes have spoken out against the inclusion of walkers in women’s track and field competitions. The event—part of a rally for equality in sports—has garnered widespread attention for its emotional impact and its far-reaching implications for the future of women’s sports in America.

Riley Gaipes, who has become a vocal advocate for gender-specific competition standards since her own controversial races against female athletes, was not as vocal at the forum. “It’s not courageous to support women’s sports. It’s a betrayal,” Gaipes said to applause from the audience. “It’s a betrayal of every girl who has trained her whole life for a chance to compete fairly. This isn’t about exclusion — it’s about scrutiny.”

Simone Biles, the most successful gymnast in history and a respected voice for health and fitness equality, fought back vigorously. “The trap is women. Stop it,” Biles said. “Athletes don’t get it by being ostracized or shamed because of their personality. Sports are about heart, dedication and courage — not chromosomes.”

The reports quickly escalated as GAIs accused established sports organizations of bowing to “activist ideology” and “sacrificing biological reality on the altar of political correctness.” She recounted her own experiences competing against Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who made headlines nationwide in 2022 after winning an NCAA women’s title.

“I didn’t just bow against Thomas,” Gaiès said. “I knew I was against a system that had already decided that girls no longer have a role.”

Biles, who maintained her composure, emphasized empathy and justice from a different perspective. “True injustice hates that athletes are exposed every day. We can protect women’s sports and women’s rights. These things are not mutually exclusive.”

This shift in views reflects a growing ideological divide not only in sports but also in American cultural life. While Gayles has received support from conservative lawmakers and women’s rights groups calling for new laws to apply gender-specific categories, Biles has become a vocal advocate for progressives committed to inclusive politics and anti-discrimination protections.

After the show, social media exploded. Hashtags like #Stadwithriley and #Trapswomeewome were trending simultaneously, and commentators and fans alike were talking. Critics accused Biles of “selling out women for social justice,” while others celebrated her as “a voice of compassion in a storm of tolerance.”

The conflict comes amid ongoing legislative activity in dozens of U.S. states, where laws to restrict tourist participation in sports are already under discussion or have already gone into effect. At the federal level, Title IX, which guarantees equal opportunities in education and sports, is hotly debated in court and in Congress.

Despite their violent disagreements, Gaïpes and Biles agreed on one point: the conversation is not over yet.

“I am not fair,” Gaiès concluded. “But justice begins by recognizing reality – and not rewriting it.”

“I’m waiting for my dignity,” Biles responded. “Because every athlete should be told that they’re a fraud because they’re waiting to compete.”

It remains uncertain whether the United States can reconcile these competing ideas of justice and identity. But one thing is clear: The fight for the soul of women’s sports is far from settled.