Simone Biles issues stunning apology to Riley Gaines after heated trans athletes feud
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But after their heated online war of words took a personal turn, Biles issued a surprising statement apologizing to the former NCAA swimmer.
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Biles, who hadn't posted in days since her online sparring session with Gaines, took to X on Tuesday to expand on her original thoughts and also own up to her mistake.
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'I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I've always believed competitive equity and inclusivity are both essential in sport,' the 11-time Olympic medallist gymnast began the lengthy post. '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.'
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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…
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 10, 2025
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The beef between Biles, 28, and Gaines, 25, unfolded late last week when the political activist shared a post about a Minnesota high school softball team winning a state championship with a transgender pitcher on its roster and noted that the comments were turned off, writing, 'To be expected when your star player is a boy.'
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In response, Biles wrote that Gaines was 'truly sick,' and referenced the former swimmer's infamous fifth-place tie with transgender athlete Lia Thomas at a championship event.
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@Riley_Gaines_ 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… https://t.co/pjpzuZ0AlO
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025
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