Olympic champion Simone Biles apologized to All-American swimmer and activist Riley Gaines after Biles criticized Gaines as “truly sick” for Gaines’ advocacy against trans athletes in women’s sports. Gaines accepted Biles’ apology, although she took issue with several of Biles’ comments and invited the gymnast to take steps to protect women’s sports.
“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport,” said Biles in a post on X Tuesday, June 10.
“The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles,” Biles said, “which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”
Simone Biles Attacks Riley Gaines on X
Riley Gaines is a Christian and former swimmer for the University of Kentucky who is known for her advocacy against trans athletes competing in women’s sports.
In March 2022, Gaines tied for fifth place with trans athlete Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win a NCAA Division I title. It was after this experience that Gaines began her advocacy.
Simone Biles is the most-decorated gymnast of all time, with her accolades including 11 Olympic medals: seven gold, two silver, and two bronze. On Friday, June 6, she criticized Gaines in posts on X, saying, “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,” said Biles. “Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!”
“But instead… You bully them,” Biles said. “One things [sic] for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
Biles added, “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Gaines responded to Biles online and in an address at The Danbury Institute’s 2025 Life & Liberty Forum, which took place Monday, June 9, ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in Dallas. She acknowledged her respect for Biles as an athlete and said she was in “disbelief” when she read Biles’ criticism of her.
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