Olympic gymnast Simone Biles apologized for her public feud with former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines.
The three-time Olympian sparred with Gaines on X last week, after Gaines criticized a Minnesota high school softball team whose star pitcher identifies as transgender.
“These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect,” she added. “I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports. My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over. I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition. We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.”
Gaines criticized the league for closing the replies under its post.
Biles responded to Gaines, calling her “truly sick” and a “sore loser,” suggesting Gaines “should be uplifting the trans community” and finding ways to make sports inclusive for transgender-identifying athletes, such as a transgender category for all sports. Biles then accused Gaines of bullying transgender athletes.
“Sports ARE inclusive by nature,” Gaines wrote. “Anyone can and everyone SHOULD play sports. Competition, on the other hand and by definition, is exclusive. So the idea of ‘competitive equity’ is nonsensical.”
“Secondly, the boys are publicly humiliating the girls,” she added. “To suggest that women and girls must be silent or ignore a boy who is PUBLICLY hurting or humiliating them is wrong. You can’t have any empathy and compassion for the girls if you’re ignoring when young men are harming or abusing them. I am not ashamed to be a voice for the voiceless.”
“Women’s sports can’t be used as an excuse for girl’s [sic] to center the feelings and validation of men and boys,” Gaines concluded. “I welcome you to the fight to support fair sports and a future for female athletes. Little girls deserve the same shot to achieve that you had.”
