USA Gymnastics (USAG) may be pivoting on the transgender beat, and the timing couldn’t be more precarious.

A high-octane clash between Olympic icon Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines exploded across social media. The controversy erupted earlier this week when Gaines, a vocal advocate for protecting women’s sports, took to X to criticize a Minnesota high school girls’ softball team for celebrating their male-born pitcher. Her comments sparked a firestorm, reigniting discussions about the inclusion of transgender athletes in female competitions.

Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, responded with a blistering rebuke, calling Gaines “truly sick” and a “sore loser” for her outspoken stance. In a particularly pointed jab, Biles compared Gaines to a man and labeled her a bully, escalating the personal nature of the dispute. Although Biles has since issued a semi-apology for her personal attacks on Gaines, the controversy keeps simmering — which puts a spotlight on USAG’s policy shift.

Their now-deleted webpages, including a November 2020 announcement, previously allowed biological males to compete in women’s categories without requiring sex reassignment, legal gender recognition, or hormone therapy. The election of President Donald Trump and his administration’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” has significantly heightened the focus on transgender policies in athletic organizations.

The order, which sought to keep women’s sports only open to biological females, has prompted several sports governing bodies to reassess their guidelines. USAG, responding to inquiries about its policy changes, confirmed to Fox News that it had removed its transgender inclusion policy in May to “assess compliance with the current legal landscape.” This vague statement has left observers speculating about whether the organization is preparing to align with stricter regulations or merely attempting to avoid further controversy as it navigates a polarized cultural climate.

Meanwhile, a New York Times/Ipsos survey shows this move from USAG is, at least, in line with the majority of the cultural landscape. The results revealed 79% of Americans — including 67% of Democrats — oppose biological males competing in women’s sports. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, USAG’s policy overhaul could have profound implications for the future of women’s gymnastics, a sport that has long been a cornerstone of American Olympic success.

The organization’s decisions will likely influence not only its own athletes but also the broader landscape of women’s sports, as other governing bodies, such as USA Fencing and USA Track and Field, have already begun tightening their transgender policies in response to similar pressures. Whether this signals a broader reckoning or a temporary dodge, USAG’s next moves will be watched closely — especially by those still reeling from the Biles-Gaines showdown.

Family Research Council’s Mary Szoch believes this could very well be a step in the right direction. “Unfortunately,” she told The Washington Stand, “Simone Biles has fallen into the trap of believing that treating people fairly and with respect means pretending every decision and action a person takes is good.”

However, she added, “If we truly love others and want to treat them fairly and with respect, there are times when we have to stand up for what is right — even if it may hurt another’s feelings.” In this case, “It is not respectful, kind, fair, or, as Biles argues, ‘uplifting’ to perpetuate the lie that God created a person in the wrong body or that men should be allowed to play women’s sports.” As Szoch explained, “Riley Gaines has been so courageous in standing up for women’s safety and right to compete on a fair playing field. I hope Biles will one day join her in this fight.”

Similarly, Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, offered a pointed perspective on USAG’s actions. “It’s about time USA Gymnastics reassesses its misguided transgender athlete policies and removes related webpages from their site,” she told TWS. Nance framed the move as a response to both the Biles-Gaines controversy and growing public demand for fairness in women’s sports.

“This move,” she continued, “following the recent controversy involving Simone Biles and Riley Gaines, signals a potential shift toward prioritizing fairness and safety in women’s sports.” Nance expressed cautious optimism, urging USAG to go further and “become the next major body to eliminate policies allowing biological males in women’s categories, marking a victory for common sense.”

“We urge USAG to heed female athletes, advocates like Riley Gaines, and the overwhelming majority of Americans who oppose biological males competing in women’s sports,” Nance concluded.