Photo: Charley Gallay / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is speaking out after she condemned conservative activist Riley Gaines over her views on transgender athletes in sports.
On Tuesday (June 10), Biles took to social media to "follow up" on her comments about Gaines, whom she previously called a "sore loser" and "truly sick" for her take on trans athletes.
"I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport," Biles wrote on X. "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."
Biles noted that the conversation surrounding transgender athletes involves "sensitive, complicated issues" that she doesn't "have the answers or solutions to."
"But I believe it starts with empathy and respect," the gymnast said. "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," Biles concluded.
Biles initially called out Gaines, a former swimmer, over her remarks on a post of players from the Minnesota State High School League posing with their first softball state championship plaque.
“Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” Gaines commented, referring to Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete who is a pitcher for the team.
In response to Gaines' remarks, Biles wrote on X, "You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. 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!! But instead… You bully them… One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
In another X post amid the feud, Biles added, “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male."
The debate between the two comes amid the Trump administration's attack on transgender athletes. The administration has pushed back against states that are permitting transgender athletes to participate in sports that align with their gender identity.
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