Political activist and former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines revealed that she is expecting her first baby amid ongoing social media drama with Simone Biles.
“Surprise! Baby GIRL coming in September,” Gaines, 25, wrote via X on Sunday, June 15, sharing maternity photos. “God is so good all the time.”
The OutKick personality is married to her husband, Louis Barker, and further gushed about her excitement over welcoming a daughter in another X message.
“There’s something so special and providential about having a little girl,” Gaines wrote in a follow-up tweet. “She’s everything I’ve been fighting for & the little girl we’ve prayed over for years. Praise God!”
Gaines and Biles, 28, recently went toe-to-toe over their opposing views about transgender athletes competing in sports.
Gaines had reposted a social media message about the Minnesota State High School League’s softball tournament victory earlier this month.
“Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” the “Gaines for Girls” podcast host wrote on June 6, seemingly purposefully misgendering a female trans athlete.
Riley Gaines and husband Louis Barker. Courtesy of Riley Gaines/Instagram
Biles fired back, calling out Gaines for misidentifying the athlete.
“@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight-up sore loser,” Biles wrote later that day. “You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans [people] feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!”
She added, “But instead … You bully them … One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
Gaines, in response, said that Biles’ reaction was “disappointing.” She also addressed the backlash in her pregnancy announcement.
An online debate about the inclusion of trans athletes in sports between Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has earned reactions from all corners of the sports landscape. The back-and-forth started via social media on Friday, June 6, when Gaines, 25, alleged a Minnesota high school softball team won the state championship because […]
“I think the funniest thing about this, to me, is her saying, ‘Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a man.’ How many men do you know that have this?” Gaines quipped during a YWLS speech on Sunday, cradling her baby bump and holding up sonogram photos.
While Biles has not reacted to Gaines’ pregnancy news, she previously apologized for her previous comments.
“I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport,” Biles wrote via X on Tuesday, June 10. “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.”
