Riley Gaines Shocks Crowd with Baby Reveal and Throws Shade at Simone Biles in Ongoing Feud

Riley Gaines and husband Louis Barker
Riley Gaines and husband Louis Barker

Riley Gaines, the former competitive swimmer and vocal conservative activist, stunned fans over the weekend with a surprise pregnancy reveal that also took a swipe at Olympic legend Simone Biles.

At 25, Gaines announced she’s expecting her first child — a baby girl — with husband Louis Barker during an event on Saturday, 14 June, and it didn’t come without a little drama.

In front of a supportive crowd, Gaines recalled the moment she saw Biles’ scathing online comments directed at her, after Gaines made remarks that many deemed anti-trans. Biles, 28 and a celebrated Olympic champion with 11 medals to her name, had called Gaines “truly sick” for her views. And it seems Gaines hasn’t forgotten that.

Standing on stage, Gaines referenced another jab from Biles, who once told her on social media, “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a man.” With perfect timing, Gaines turned the moment on its head by revealing her baby bump, saying, “How many men do you know that have this?” The crowd erupted in cheers.

Shortly after the reveal, Gaines shared a joyful Instagram post alongside her husband. The couple, who married in 2022, posed with ultrasound images and their horse, beaming with excitement. “Surprise! We’re 26 weeks pregnant!” she wrote. “God is SO good all the time.”

In another post on X (formerly Twitter), Gaines expressed even deeper emotion about the news, especially given the wider context of the feud. “There’s something so special and providential about having a little girl,” she wrote. “She’s everything I’ve been fighting for & the little girl we’ve prayed over for years. Praise God.”

This heartfelt announcement comes just weeks after Gaines and Biles were at the centre of a heated social media exchange. The feud was sparked when Gaines commented on a post by the Minnesota State High School League, which celebrated its first-ever softball state championship. Gaines stirred controversy by claiming the win was “to be expected when your star player is a boy,” referencing Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender woman who helped secure the victory for her team.

Biles, who has been outspoken in support of the trans community, hit back quickly. “@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser,” she wrote. “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.”

She didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, Biles added, “But instead… You bully them. One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!” And of course, there was that now-famous line Gaines referenced during her baby announcement: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

With emotions running high on both sides of the issue, it’s clear the tension between Gaines and Biles isn’t cooling off anytime soon. But one thing’s certain — Gaines’ announcement has shifted the conversation, at least for now, to a new chapter in her life.

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