Burying the hatchet? Not quite…
Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is apologizing to former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines after attacking the conservative pundit online.
In a Tuesday post on X, the Olympic gymnast wrote that she wanted to “follow up” on her recent social media messages involving student athlete turned political pundit Riley Gaines, who had criticised a transgender athlete’s participation on a Minnesota high school softball team.
The pitcher on Champlin Park’s team identifies as transgender and pitched a shutout, delivering a 6-0 win over Bloomington Jefferson High School on Friday. Gaines referred to a player on the team, who identifies as transgender, as “a boy” which prompted the personal online attack from the star Olympian.
“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,” Biles said in a post directed at Gaines.
“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,” Biles told Gaines, adding in another post, “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Biles, who is currently the most decorated gymnast in history, comments prompted immediate backlash on social media.
Four days after Biles personally attacked Gaines for standing up for fairness in women’s sports, Biles issued an apology. The seven-time Olympic gold medalist also seemed to slightly adjust her previous stance on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
“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. I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports,” Biles wrote. “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.”
“I accept Simone’s apology for the personal attacks including the ones where she body-shamed me. I know she knows what this feels like. She’s still the greatest female gymnast of all time,” Gaines responded.
However, while Gaines accepted the apology, she noted that Biles’ apology post still included points that are worth debating.
“Sports ARE inclusive by nature. 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. 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.”
Finally, Gaines urged Biles to join the fight to protect women’s sports, something the gold medalist has never done.
“I agree with you that the blame is on the lawmakers and leaders at the top. Precisely why I’m suing the NCAA and support candidates who vow to stand with women. That’s why I joined [President Donald Trump] at the signing of his Executive Order. I didn’t see you there or championing this effort with your platform. Women’s sports can’t be used as an excuse for [girls] to center the feelings and validation of men and boys. 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.”
Many on social media also pointed out Biles’ call for open categories in all sports.
It’s important to note that in 2022, World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming, updated its eligibility policy to effectively ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s events. The following year, the organization launched and debuted an open category at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Berlin.
The organization later confirmed that upon the close of registration, no entries had been received for the open category.
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When the Olympics meant something, I imagine Biles’ medals would be in jeopardy for behavior unsuited for an Olympian.