Latest news with #competitiveEquity
National Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Simone Biles issues stunning apology to Riley Gaines after heated trans athletes feud
The debate over transgender athletes in sports has stirred up many heated debates, including one this week between Olympic legend Simone Biles and Riley Gaines, one of the most prominent conservative voices on the subject. Article content But after their heated online war of words took a personal turn, Biles issued a surprising statement apologizing to the former NCAA swimmer. Article content Article content Article content 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. Article content '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.' Article content 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 Article content Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content @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… — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Simone Biles apologizes to Riley Gaines, argues for 'competitive equity and inclusivity' in women's sports
In a post Tuesday, Biles apologized for not showing "empathy and respect" in a tweet where she ripped Gaines for the former swimmer's stance on transgender athletes. In her post, Biles said she believed "competitive equity and inclusivity" are essential in sport. She said she did not want to advocate for policies that "compromise fairness in women's sports." Biles added that she took issue with Gaines singling out a child in her post. Advertisement Biles ended her post by saying: "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 and Gaines engaged in a verbal back-and-forth on X on Friday after Gaines attacked Minnesota's high school interscholastic governing body for allowing a transgender girl to compete in the girl's state softball tournament. Champlin Park, with the transgender girl on the mound, won the state 4A championship 6-0. Biles responded to that tweet, calling Gaines a "sore loser" and a "bully." Gaines — a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky — became a public figure in 2022, when she argued against the inclusion of transgender women participating in women's sports after she tied for fifth with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at a meet. Gaines has continued to lobby for that cause, and appeared in a video on the United States Department of Health and Human Services website in February which argued against allowing transgender women to participate in women's sports. Advertisement Gaines responded to Biles' post Friday, calling it "disappointing." Over the weekend, Gaines tweeted or shared at least 15 tweets mentioning Biles. Shortly after Biles' post, Gaines responded to Biles' post. "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. "A couple of things. Sports ARE inclusive by nature. Anyone can and everyone SHOULD play sports. Competition, on the other hand and by definition, is exclusive. So the idea of "competitive equity" is nonsensical. "Secondly, the boys are publicly humiliating the girls. To suggest that women and girls must be silent or ignore a boy who is PUBLICLY hurting or humiliating them is wrong. You can't have any empathy and compassion for the girls if you're ignoring when young men are harming or abusing them. I am not ashamed to be a voice for the voiceless. "Lastly, I agree with you that the blame is on the lawmakers and leaders at the top. Precisely why I'm suing the NCAA and support candidates who vow to stand with women. That's why I joined @realDonaldTrump at the signing of his Executive Order. I didn't see you there or championing this effort with your platform. "Women's sports can't be used as an excuse for girl's to center the feelings and validation of men and boys.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Simone Biles Issues Apology To Riley Gaines, Defends Inclusive Message
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. 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. ' 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.
