Simone Biles Deletes X Account Amid Trans Athlete Feud: What’s Next?
GOLD MEDAL DRAMA: Simone Biles and Riley Gaines' Fiery Feud Reignites as Olympian Admits She's Not Got All the Answers
The sports world is still reeling from the explosive feud between Olympic gymnastics sensation Simone Biles and former swimmer Riley Gaines. And in a shocking twist, it appears that Biles has deactivated her X account, but she's not letting her Instagram followers down just yet!
Just days after Biles apologized for getting personal in her attacks on Gaines over the athlete's anti-trans campaigning, the Olympian shared a cryptic quote on her Instagram story: "Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive." The post has left fans wondering if Biles is hinting at the intense backlash she faced following her initial feud with Gaines.
For those who may have missed the drama unfold, it all started when Gaines criticized a Minnesota high school softball team for competing with a trans pitcher. Biles, never one to shy away from controversy, jumped into the fray on X, telling Gaines to "bully someone your own size" – an ironic suggestion given that Gaines has been vocal about her opposition to trans athletes competing in women's sports.
The gloves were off, and the two athletes engaged in a heated exchange that left fans divided. But just four days later, Biles publicly apologized for getting personal, acknowledging that competitive equity and inclusivity are essential in sport. However, she also admitted that she didn't have all the answers on how to include trans athletes in sports without compromising fairness – a candid acknowledgment that seemed to acknowledge the polarizing nature of her criticism.
Gaines accepted Biles' apology, but not before firing back with a few choice words of her own. In an interview with thescholarlynote.com, Gaines said: "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."
As the drama continued to unfold, it emerged that Biles' husband – NFL player Jonathan Owens – had shared her lengthy apology on Instagram, complete with a heartfelt message of his own.
But in a surprising twist, Gaines revealed earlier this month that she's pregnant with her first child. The news came just days after she sparked outrage by retweeting a picture of the Minnesota state softball champions Champlin Park, who won their competition with a dominant trans pitcher in Marissa Rothenberger – an athlete whom Gaines had previously criticized.
In a separate incident, Gaines also took aim at AB Hernandez, who has faced protests from her own competitors while competing in California last month. One athlete, who finished second to Hernandez at a different meet, waited for the male-born Hernandez to step down from the podium before taking what Gaines described as her "rightful place" in the No 1 spot – while also describing Hernandez as a "fraud."
As the drama surrounding Biles and Gaines continues to unfold, one thing is clear: these two athletes are not backing down from their respective positions on the issue of trans athletes competing in women's sports. And with both sides refusing to give an inch, it seems that this feud is far from over. Stay tuned for further updates!