Riley Gaines has shocked fans by offering a surprising message of respect to Simone Biles after their intense social media clash over transgender athletes. Despite their fiery exchange, Gaines has now expressed an openness to collaboration. What exactly did she say, and what does this mean for their relationship moving forward? Find out the full details now! 👇👇

Riley Gaines Opens Up About Potential Collaboration with Simone Biles Following Public Feud

In a surprising turn of events following a heated social media feud, Riley Gaines, the former competitive swimmer and outspoken political activist, has made it clear that she would be open to working with Simone Biles. The two athletes, who have been at the center of a public exchange regarding the role of transgender athletes in women’s sports, are now offering a message of mutual respect after a series of personal digs.

The Online Feud

The tension between Gaines and Biles erupted earlier this month on social media, following a controversy surrounding transgender athletes. The issue came to a head after Gaines criticized a post by the Minnesota State High School League about a transgender softball player, sparking backlash from Biles. The seven-time Olympic gold medalist slammed Gaines, calling her “truly sick” and accusing her of being a “bully.”

The feud intensified when Gaines responded by calling Biles “a truly sick bully” and mentioning a personal dig at Biles’s body shape in one of her posts. The back-and-forth exchange brought the debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports into the public eye, igniting passionate reactions from both sides.

Riley Gaines on Working with Simone Biles

Despite the fiery exchange, Gaines has since expressed a willingness to put the animosity behind her and work with Biles in the future. In an interview with TMZ, Gaines revealed that she has long respected Biles for her contributions to women’s sports. “Absolutely [I would work with her], look, Simone is someone I’ve looked up to, I’ve respected for so long,” Gaines said.

Gaines went on to praise Biles for her impact not only on gymnastics but also on empowering women. “She has done so much for women’s sports, of course, for the sport of gymnastics, but even broader than that for women in general,” Gaines explained. She also acknowledged how Biles’s stance on the transgender athlete debate was important, particularly given her influential platform. “Her stance felt so deeply visceral to me not because of the personal attacks, but more so again because of how she used her platform,” Gaines said.

She further emphasized the importance of Biles’s influence, saying that young girls across the nation, including her little sister, who is a gymnast, look up to Biles. This recognition of Biles’s power and influence is at the heart of Gaines’s willingness to put their differences aside.

The Origins of the Disagreement

The public clash between the two athletes occurred amid ongoing political and societal debates over transgender rights, particularly in the realm of sports. Gaines has been an outspoken critic of allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports, while Biles has advocated for inclusion and empathy for transgender athletes.

The conflict escalated when Gaines criticized a Minnesota softball team’s social media post for disabling comments because their star player was transgender. “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” Gaines wrote, which provoked a response from Biles accusing her of being a “sore loser” over a race that Gaines had lost in 2022. Biles also called out Gaines for “bullying” the trans community instead of supporting them, and suggested a separate category for transgender athletes.

Later, Biles acknowledged that her comments had been inappropriate and apologized for making the feud personal. “The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges,” Biles wrote. “And it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for. 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.”

Moving Forward: Respect and Collaboration

While their feud was intense and personal at times, both athletes have expressed a desire to move forward with mutual respect. Gaines’s willingness to work with Biles in the future underscores a broader theme of reconciliation amidst the challenges of navigating sensitive issues in sports.

“I think the focus should be on empathy and respect,” Gaines concluded, highlighting that despite their differences, both athletes are committed to doing what’s best for women in sports. The fact that both Biles and Gaines have acknowledged the need for greater understanding shows that there is room for dialogue, even when opinions differ.

As the debate continues, the hope is that it will lead to solutions that prioritize inclusivity, fairness, and mutual respect in the world of sports. Whether or not Gaines and Biles collaborate on future projects remains to be seen, but their evolving relationship could serve as an example of how differences in opinion can be addressed with understanding and a willingness to move forward.