Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles released a statement Tuesday softening her stance on transgender athletes in sports, following a tense and highly publicized social media clash with former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines. The post marked a notable shift in tone for Biles, who just days earlier had blasted Gaines over her criticisms of biological males competing in female athletics.
Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, acknowledged in her new statement that the ongoing debate surrounding competitive fairness and inclusivity is deeply complex and emotionally charged.
“The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles,” Biles wrote. “It didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”
The feud began last week when Gaines reacted to news that a Minnesota high school softball team had won a state title with a biological male pitcher on its roster. Gaines commented bluntly, “To be expected when your star player is a boy.” Biles quickly responded, calling Gaines “truly sick” and telling her to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Those remarks drew widespread criticism and sparked a trending backlash, with many accusing Biles of minimizing concerns about fairness in girls’ sports and ignoring the implications for female athletes. In Tuesday’s post, Biles appeared to acknowledge the fallout and aimed to clarify her intent.
“I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports,” she explained. “My objection is to singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful.”
Biles emphasized that children, especially student-athletes, should not bear the brunt of criticism aimed at what she described as a “flawed system.” Instead, she called on sports organizations to take the lead in establishing policies that balance inclusion with equitable competition.
The apology drew a quick response from Gaines, who expressed disappointment in what she described as Biles “being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams.” Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick also weighed in, supporting Gaines and asserting that “common sense will prevail.”
