Simone Biles Finally Clears Air Over Riley Gaines Controversy

The rivalry between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines just took yet another turn. And this time, it is Biles again who is at the center. After Gaines called out the inclusion of a 17-year-old trans athlete in the women’s category, Biles lashed out at Gaines. She pointed out that such discrimination must not be made, which soon turned into a full-blown verbal war between the two. With things getting personal, constant back-and-forth between Gaines and Biles kept the fans on their toes.

However, it seems like Biles has now focused on bringing the heat down. In what was a clarification tweet from Biles, the Olympian tried to justify her stance. She wrote, “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, for which I apologize. 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 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. Xoxo, Simone.” Surely, this was a major shift in the narrative from Biles. 

Earlier, the gymnastics legend seemed to be utterly frustrated with what Riley Gaines had to say. Well, Simone Biles may be the most decorated gymnast in history, but even she couldn’t flip her way out of this controversy. Days after a fiery online war erupted with Riley Gaines, Biles is walking back her words, offering what appears to be a toned down response. 

The fiasco ignited when Gaines criticized the Minnesota State High School League for turning off comments on a post celebrating the Chaplin Park girls’ team’s championship win. Her jab, “Comments off lol, To be expected when your star player is a boy,” was a direct hit at the inclusion of a 17-year-old trans athlete. When Biles jumped in to slam Gaines’ comment, many expected it to end there. But Gaines fired back hard, dragging up past controversies from Biles’ own career to question her moral standing. The exchange spiraled, captivating national attention and pushing both women deeper into the public spotlight.

Now, with the internet in flames and her image taking a hit, Biles has softened her tone. While she stopped short of naming Gaines directly this time, the timing and tone make it clear. This is Biles extending an olive branch. Whether it’s enough to calm the storm remains to be seen, but the champion has clearly felt the heat.