After days of online backlash and heated discussions, Simone Biles addressed her previous comments directed at Riley Gaines in a Tuesday morning post on X.

“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. 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 said.

“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.

“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.”

Since tying for 5th with a transgender swimmer at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Gaines gained notoriety for her fervent anti-trans views.

Last Week’s Online Clash

On June 6, Simone Biles called out Gaines for the swimmer’s harassment of youth sports teams and their inclusion of transgender athletes.

That day, Gaines mocked a Minnesota youth softball team for including a transgender female athlete on their team. “Comments off lol,” Gaines commented in a quote tweet. “To be expected when your star player is a boy,” she added.

Biles was quick to defend the youth athletes and transgender community.

“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,” Biles said.

“Instead…you bully them. One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!” The OlympicChampion also reprimanded Gaines for attacking children: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male,” she said.

Biles’ comments struck a nerve with Gaines, anti-transgender activists, and the conservative media. Gaines alone has continued to engage since the incident, having posted about the topic on X more than 28 times in four days.

Gaines even paired up with known anti-transgender activist and former gymnast Jennifer Sey, who both advocated for Athleta to end its partnership with Biles, the most successful gymnast of all time, male or female.

On the other hand, Biles was largely silent following the interaction and subsequent online uproar. The seven-time Olympic gold medalist’s first comment came in this morning’s post.

ForbesSimone Biles And Riley Gaines Clash Over Transgender Athletes In Women’s SportsBy Caroline Price