In a significant development, former collegiate swimmer and advocate Riley Gaines has publicly accepted an apology from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, seemingly bringing to a close a heated online dispute that garnered considerable attention. The feud, primarily centered around the contentious issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports, had seen sharp exchanges between the two prominent figures.
The dispute ignited earlier this month after Gaines made comments on social media regarding a transgender high school softball player. Biles responded forcefully, labeling Gaines “truly sick” and a “sore loser,” and suggesting she “bully someone her own size, which would ironically be a male.” These remarks quickly escalated the debate, drawing in a wide array of opinions.
However, Biles later issued a public apology for getting “personal” in her remarks, stating that while she believes in both competitive equity and inclusivity, the current system often leads to “frustration and heated exchanges.” She emphasized that her objection was to “singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful.”
Gaines, who recently announced her pregnancy, confirmed she had accepted Biles’ apology. While maintaining her stance on the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, she expressed appreciation for Biles’ acknowledgment and welcomed her to the broader discussion on fair sports for female athletes.
“I accept Simone’s apology for the personal attacks, including the ones where she body-shamed me,” Gaines stated, adding, “I know she knows what this feels like. She’s still the greatest female gymnast of all time.”
This acceptance of the apology, despite continued ideological differences, suggests a desire from Gaines to move past the personal attacks that characterized the recent online spat. While the broader debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports remains a complex and ongoing conversation, the public reconciliation between Gaines and Biles marks a step back from the direct animosity that had flared between them.
