Olympic gymnastics great Simone Biles apologized Tuesday for her viral blast at Riley Gaines, saying her intention was to defend “children” coming under public scrutiny amid the debate over fairness versus inclusion in female sports.
The seven-time Olympic gold medalist’s mea culpa began with, “I wanted to follow up from my last tweets,” referring to her Friday posts on X blasting OutKick podcast host Riley Gaines as a “sore loser” and “sick,” and suggesting she was the size of a man.
“I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. 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 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 wrote on X.
“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 continued. “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.”
Biles’ earlier screed came in response to a post by Gaines in which she criticized the participation of a 17-year-old transgender pitcher who led the Champlin Park High School girls’ softball team to a Minnesota state title last week.
“I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition,” Biles concluded. “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.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 10, 2025
A couple of things. Sports ARE inclusive by nature. Anyone can and everyone SHOULD play… https://t.co/V8YbMvs3xf
Biles was accused of throwing female athletes under the bus as well as body-shaming by telling Gaines that she should “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Gaines, a former college swimmer, has been listed online at 5 feet, 9 inches, but she posted a video last weekend showing her being measured at 5 feet, 51/2 inches.
Gaines accepted the apology and praised Biles for her athletic achievements.
“I accept Simone’s apology for the personal attacks including the ones where she body-shamed me,” Gaines wrote on X. “I know she knows what this feels like. She’s still the greatest female gymnast of all time.”
She disagreed with the concept of “competitive equity,” but emphasized their points of agreement, namely that the problem lies with those making the eligibility rules for female sports.
“Women’s sports can’t be used as an excuse for [girls] to center the feelings and validation of men and boys,” Gaines wrote on X. “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.”
Whether the episode does lasting damage to Biles’ brand remains to be seen. While some commenters praised her for apologizing, she risks alienating both sides of the transgender-athlete debate with her awkward dismount.
Those in the anti-Gaines camp reacted with posts such as, “Why are we apologizing to the White Nationalists?” and “You did nothing wrong. Riley is a transphobe grifter.”
Others accused Biles of trying to salvage her image without actually changing her stance on biological males competing in female sports based on gender identity.
“It’s not an apology. It’s a desperate attempt at damage control,” women’s skateboarder Taylor Silverman wrote on X. Libs of TikTok responded: “You should fire your PR team.”
Jason Whitlock, host of the sports podcast “Fearless with Jason Whitlock,” asked: “Who wrote this? It took 48 hours to write this?”
XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear brand that promotes single-sex female sports, replied: “A true apology would mean adding your voice to the chorus of truly brave ones, like Riley’s, for the protection of women’s sports.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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