Simone Biles Deactivates X Account Amid Heated Debate Over Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has taken a significant step by deactivating her X account following a contentious debate with former swimmer Riley Gaines about the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. This decision came on Sunday after weeks of escalating public disagreement between the two renowned athletes.
The controversy erupted earlier this month when Biles publicly criticized Gaines for her outspoken opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports. Gaines, who notably competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas during her NCAA career, has been a vocal advocate for limiting transgender athletes’ involvement in female categories.
Despite her exit from X, Biles remains active on Instagram, where she recently shared an inspiring quote: "Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive."
The feud began approximately three weeks ago, when Gaines condemned a Minnesota high school softball team for allowing a transgender pitcher to compete. In response, Biles took to X, stating, "You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser." Biles further challenged Gaines to "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male," and suggested establishing "a transgender category in all sports" instead of excluding transgender athletes.
Biles accused Gaines of jeopardizing the safety of athletes in sports, remarking, "One thing’s for sure, no one in sports is safe with you around!" After a few days of heated exchanges, Biles issued a public apology on X. She acknowledged the importance of competitive equity and inclusivity in sports while recognizing that the current system often fails to balance these principles, leading to frustration and conflict. Biles admitted that her personal remarks towards Gaines were inappropriate and expressed her regret.
In her heartfelt apology, Biles stated, "These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect." She clarified that she was not advocating for policies that undermine fairness in women’s sports but criticized the practice of targeting young athletes for public scrutiny in harmful ways. Biles emphasized that "individual athletes, especially kids, should never be the focus of criticism for a flawed system they cannot control."
Gaines accepted Biles’ apology, responding, "I accept Simone’s apology for the personal attacks, including the ones where she body-shamed me. I know she knows what this feels like. She’s still the greatest female gymnast of all time."
The original disagreement centered around the Champlin Park softball team from Minnesota, who won their championship with transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger. Gaines had retweeted a team celebration photo on X, writing, "Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy."
Biles’ apology was later shared on Instagram by her husband, Jonathan Owens, a player for the Chicago Bears. In the days following this social media exchange, Gaines announced that she is expecting her first child.
As this ongoing discussion around transgender athletes in sports continues, both Biles and Gaines have highlighted the complexities and sensitivities that come with advocating for fairness and inclusivity in athletic competition.
