Days after Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines exchanged barbs on social media, the gymnast issued a new statement addressing the comments she made against Gaines.

Biles issued a public apology to Gaines on Tuesday after their dispute about transgender athletes in sports played out on social media.

“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 on a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The dispute between Biles and Gaines began after Champlin Park High School won Minnesota’s Class 4A girls’ softball state championship. One of the team’s pitchers is transgender, according to a report by Fox News.

Why It Matters

The high-profile clash between Biles and Gaines highlighted the polarized national debate over transgender inclusion in sports, which escalated during the 2024 presidential election cycle.

President Donald Trump vowed to remove many transgender athletes from sports that didn’t match their biological sex, even making it the focus of one of his early executive orders.

Gaines, 25, is a former collegiate swimmer for the University of Kentucky, has been outspoken in her opposition to transgender policies in sports.

Simone Biles and Riley Gaines L: Simone Biles attends the Time100 Gala in New York on April 24, 2025. R: Riley Gaines at the U.S. Capitol on January 14, 2025. Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP and Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images

What To Know

Biles said the issues surrounding this discussion “are sensitive, complicated issues,” adding, “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,” Biles said. “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.”

Gaines said she accepts Biles’ apology for “the personal attacks including the ones where she body-shamed me.”

“A couple of things. Sports ARE inclusive by nature. Anyone can and everyone SHOULD play sports,” Gaines said on X. “Competition, on the other hand and by definition, is exclusive. So the idea of ‘competitive equity’ is nonsensical.”

Gaines mentioned that she was at the signing of Trump’s executive order.

“I didn’t see you there or championing this effort with your platform,” Gaines said.

The debate between Biles and Gaines began on Friday. When the Minnesota State High School League turned off comments on a celebratory social media post, Gaines wrote, “To be expected when your star player is a boy.”

Biles, recognized as the most decorated gymnast in history, responded on X: “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 category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them…One [thing’s] for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
In 2022, Gaines tied for fifth place with swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, during a collegiate competition.

In another post, Biles told Gaines to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

“This is so disappointing. My take is the least controversial take on the planet,” Gaines said in response. “Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams? Didn’t have that on my bingo card.”

What People Are Saying

Simone Biles, Tuesday on X: “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.”

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Riley Gaines, Tuesday 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.”

What Happens Next

Sports organizations, policymakers, and advocacy groups are expected to continue debating and reassessing policies regarding transgender athlete participation.

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Update 6/10/25, 3:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.