Former Team USA gymnast Dee Worley blasts USA Gymnastics for removing transgender athlete policy resources, calling it “cowardice” as controversy grows between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines over fairness in women’s sports.
Key Takeaways
- Dee Worley, former Team USA gymnast, criticized USA Gymnastics for removing transgender athlete policy webpages amid rising controversy.
- The criticism comes after a heated social media exchange between Olympic champion Simone Biles and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines.
- Biles apologized for personal attacks against Gaines but maintained sports organizations should balance inclusion with fairness.
- Worley predicts USA Gymnastics will announce a policy with vague language and loopholes that fails to protect female athletes.
- Worley urged current female gymnasts to “push back” against competing with transgender athletes.
Former Gymnast Calls Out USA Gymnastics’ “Cowardice”
As the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports intensifies, former Team USA gymnast Dee Worley has sharply criticized USA Gymnastics for removing transgender athlete policy resources from its website. Worley didn’t mince words, describing the organization’s handling of the issue as “cowardice” and claiming USA Gymnastics has shown a “steady decline in its ability to have backbone” when facing politically charged issues. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, Worley expressed particular concern about the timing of this policy vacuum, suggesting it leaves female athletes vulnerable to unfair competition.
The criticism comes at a particularly sensitive moment for USA Gymnastics, as Olympic champion Simone Biles recently found herself embroiled in a public disagreement with women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines over transgender participation in women’s athletics. Worley noted a troubling pattern within the organization, claiming USA Gymnastics “bent its knee to the woke mob” after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, prioritizing political considerations over athletic fairness and the protection of female competitors.
Simone Biles and Riley Gaines Clash Over Trans Athletes
The controversy that likely prompted USA Gymnastics to remove its policy resources began when Simone Biles and Riley Gaines engaged in a heated social media exchange over transgender athletes in women’s sports. The dispute ignited when Gaines commented on a transgender athlete competing in a high school softball championship, leading Biles to criticize Gaines for what she perceived as bullying trans athletes. Biles initially suggested creating a separate transgender category in sports, while Gaines countered that sports are inherently inclusive by nature, but competition must remain exclusive to ensure fairness.
Following the escalation of their public disagreement, Biles issued an apology for getting personal with Gaines while clarifying her position. “I want to sincerely apologize for speaking on such a sensitive topic without taking the time to properly gather my thoughts,” Biles stated. “I’m not an advocate for policies that may compromise the fairness of competitions for female athletes.” Gaines accepted the apology but maintained her stance that biological differences cannot be ignored in competitive sports.
Concerns About Future Policy Changes
Worley expressed serious concerns about what lies ahead for USA Gymnastics’ transgender athlete policies. She predicted the organization will soon announce amended policies that use deliberately vague language with potential loopholes, failing to provide robust protections for female athletes. This prediction comes as other Team USA sport governing bodies have also recently revised their transgender participation policies, often amid significant controversy and opposing viewpoints from athletes, coaches, and advocacy groups.
Worley offered direct advice to current female gymnasts who may face this issue: “push back” against competing with transgender athletes. Her comments reflect growing opposition to transgender inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports across the country, with many states enacting legislation to restrict participation based on biological sex. The former gymnast emphasized that political considerations should never override the core principles of fair athletic competition, especially in a sport where physical capabilities and body composition play such crucial roles.
Broader Implications for Women’s Sports
This controversy highlights the ongoing national debate about balancing inclusion with competitive fairness in women’s sports. While Biles emphasized that sports organizations should create rules that support inclusion while maintaining fair competition, Worley’s criticism suggests that USA Gymnastics may be prioritizing political expediency over protecting female athletes. The debate extends far beyond gymnastics, affecting virtually all women’s sports at various competitive levels.
The removal of policy resources from USA Gymnastics’ website occurs at a time when more athletes are speaking out on both sides of the issue. Worley’s outspoken critique represents a growing sentiment among former and current female athletes concerned about protecting women’s sports categories. As the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles draw closer, pressure will likely mount on USA Gymnastics and other governing bodies to establish clear, science-based policies that can withstand both public scrutiny and potential legal challenges.
