Simone Biles apologizes to Riley Gaines, argues for ‘competitive equity and inclusivity’ in women’s sports

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles apologized to former college swimmer Riley Gaines after the two engaged in a verbal back-and-forth on X on Friday.

In a post Tuesday, Biles apologized for not showing “empathy and respect” in a tweet where she ripped Gaines for the former swimmer’s stance on transgender athletes.

In her post, Biles said she believed “competitive equity and inclusivity” are essential in sport. She said she did not want to advocate for policies that “compromise fairness in women’s sports.” Biles added that she took issue with Gaines singling out a child in her post.

Biles ended her post by saying:

“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.”

Biles and Gaines engaged in a verbal back-and-forth on X on Friday after Gaines attacked Minnesota’s high school interscholastic governing body for allowing a transgender girl to compete in the girl’s state softball tournament. Champlin Park, with the transgender girl on the mound, won the state 4A championship 6-0. Biles responded to that tweet, calling Gaines a “sore loser” and a “bully.”

Gaines — a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky — became a public figure in 2022, when she argued against the inclusion of transgender women participating in women’s sports after she tied for fifth with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at a meet.

Gaines has continued to lobby for that cause, and appeared in a video on the United States Department of Health and Human Services website in February which argued against allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports.

Gaines responded to Biles’ post Friday, calling it “disappointing.” Over the weekend, Gaines tweeted or shared at least 15 tweets mentioning Biles.

Shortly after Biles’ post, Gaines responded to Biles’ post.

Simone Biles Just Wore a Red Carpet Gown Inspired by This $59 Workout Tee

Olympian Simone Biles isn’t backing down from critics after proudly embracing a new title.

Dubbed the “most decorated gymnast of all time” due to her unparalleled achievements in sports, the Ohio native has earned the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). This recognition has sparked admiration from fans and inspired calls for further celebration of her impact.

As she continues to break barriers, Biles recently received a new title, further cementing her mark in the world of sports.

On Monday, the 28-year-old received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Wearing a green doctoral robe, she delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech after being awarded the title of Doctor of Humane Letters.

The 11-time Olympic medalist also took to social media to highlight her recent achievement and encourage her followers.

“Call me Dr. Biles from now on,” she captioned the TikTok post.

Amid the wave of fans congratulating the gymnast on her new title, others reacted negatively, questioning whether the honor was truly deserved.

“Sorry, I’m not calling you doctor,” one wrote.

“Respectfully, you’re kind of making the rest of us look bad, Dr. Congratulations!” a follower added.

A fan expressed a strong opinion on the title and commented, “Can we stop with the honorary degrees already? They’re disrespectful to those who actually earned their doctorates.”

“This is a slap in the face to those who actually work hard to receive the degree,” a TikTok user chimed in.

“’Dr. Biles’ yeah, that’s funny. Save the Dr. title for the real ones out here please. They earned it just like you earned your medal!” another added.

The recognition continues to draw mixed reactions, with some fans arguing that it was overly self-promotional.

“Meanwhile, we actually stressing and paying hella to get the real degrees,” a commenter wrote.

The same goes for another user who said, “And you’re not a doctor lol. Like you have no knowledge to teach anyone. Maybe if it’s a PhD in gymnastics, then you got it, but if not, you don’t deserve it, idc who you are, I work hard for my degrees.”

On the other hand, while critics questioned her use of the “Dr.” title, the gymnast wasted no time in setting the record straight.

Biles clarified that an honorary doctorate recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to a specific field or to society, even if they haven’t followed the conventional path of earning a doctoral degree.

“It’s literally just an honor, kind of like an award,” she responded in one of the comments, adding, “It isn’t the same as an actual degree and we recognize that! God forbid I speak at the graduation.”

Olympic champion Simone Biles made a grand entrance at the 2025 ESPY Awards in a glittering navy gown—but it wasn’t just fans or photographers who were impressed. Her younger sister, Adria Biles, had one of the most passionate reactions to Simone’s eye-catching look.

On her Instagram Story, Adria shared a photo of Simone from the red carpet.

“Stunning gorgeous beautiful I wanna kill yewwwww cutie bootyyyy sister girl,” she wrote.

The Olympian’s gown, custom-designed by Zac Posen in collaboration with activewear brand Athleta, shimmered from every angle as she arrived at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens.

The unique dress was crafted from Athleta’s Transcend Open Back Tee—one of Simone’s personal favorites and was reimagined as a floor-length, open-back gown with sequin embellishments.

This year marked the gymnast’s first ESPY appearance since 2017. She was nominated for two top honors: Best Athlete in Women’s Sports and Best Championship Performance for her gold medal in the 2024 Olympics Women’s All-Around event.

Meanwhile, Owens turned heads on the red carpet too, not only for his sleek style but for how attentively he cared for his wife. As cameras snapped away, he was spotted fixing the train of her gown and gently fixing her hair.

The sisters’ close bond has long been public. Though two years apart, they are often mistaken for twins due to their striking resemblance. Adria, a former elite gymnast, trained alongside Simone until 2016.

Despite Simone’s fame, the two sisters maintain a normal sibling relationship. According to USA Today, they’ve shared stories about stealing each other’s clothes and playfully arguing, but they always show up for one another, as seen once again during this standout moment at the ESPYs.

2024 U.S. junior champion claimed the all-around Saturday (19 July) as the seven-time Olympic champion watched from the stands.

It follows the seven-time Olympic champion on her remarkable journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, giving viewers an insight into her comeback from her withdrawal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and her advocacy for athlete mental health and wellbeing. The documentary was also used as evidence in Jordan Chiles’ appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, after she was stripped of the bronze medal in the controversial women’s floor final.

The docuseries had audiences engaged, with its endearing, intimate approach, and critics have reacted positively, with Variety calling it “a beautiful reflection of a champion who defied all odds.” Could she defy the odds again and beat popular shows ‘Chef’s Table’, ‘100 Foot Wave’, ‘SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night and Social Studies’?

“Simone Biles Rising is a powerful reminder that true strength lies not only in medals, but also in courage, honesty and the willingness to be vulnerable. This Emmy nomination is a great honour — and a testament to Simone’s impact and the values that lie at the heart of the Olympic Movement. We’re proud to have helped bring her story to the world,” said Olympic Channel Executive Director Yiannis Exarchos in an Olympics.com press release.

The OCS and the International Olympic Committee had a hand in producing the series, and the nomination “marks another milestone for the IOC’s original productions, which continue to bring the inspiring stories of athletes to audiences worldwide,” said Jérôme Parmentier, vice-president of Media Rights and Content Partnerships at the IOC.

Biles was in disbelief at the news, and shared the nomination on her social media, writing “STOP IT,” accompanied by screaming emojis. Just a day later, she’d be overcome by surprise again, winning Best Championship Performance at The ESPYS for her efforts at the Paris Games.

“That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles said, according to ESPN.

The highly anticipated Emmys will be held on 14 September at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, where Simone Biles Rising could soon join the ranks of Games documentaries recognised by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, such as ‘Netflix’s Rising Phoenix’, the documentary about the Paralympic Games, which won two Sports Emmys in 2021.

Jonathan Owens shares sweet reaction to Simone Biles’ radiant ESPYs appearance

When Simone Biles stepped onto the 2025 ESPYs red carpet in a shimmering blue Zac Posen gown, the cameras weren’t the only ones fixated on her. Her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, made sure every detail of her look was picture-perfect – even fixing her dress and smoothing her hair before they posed for photographers.

The moment, captured in a video by Bustle and reposted by Owens himself, quickly went viral. His caption? Just five words: “Know imma keep my baby right.” And really, it said it all.

That small gesture wasn’t just about fashion. It was about presence – the kind that says, I see you, and I’m proud of you. Later that evening, Owens made it official with a heartfelt Instagram post celebrating Biles’ two ESPY wins: Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete – Women’s Sports.

“So proud of you baby,” he wrote. “That’s 6”Owens’ enthusiasm wasn’t just adorable – it was earned.

Biles Stuns, Owens Shows Up – Again

This isn’t the first time Owens has turned a public moment into a love letter. Back in May, the couple made waves at the Met Gala. Biles wore a dazzling blue beaded gown with a train; Owens wore a custom white Deji & Kola suit that looked straight off a runway. The couple shared the photos on Instagram with captions full of admiration – not just for each other, but for the moment they were sharing.

At the ESPYs, that energy carried through. While Biles stole the spotlight with her wins, Owens anchored the moment with quiet support and visible pride. The duo’s chemistry, both on and off camera, didn’t go unnoticed. People, ET Online, and USA Today were among the outlets highlighting their red carpet presence as one of the night’s most memorable.

With Biles continuing to redefine greatness in women’s sports and Owens cheering her on from every sideline – and every step of the carpet – it’s no wonder fans are rooting for this duo just as much as they root for their teams.

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who has 1.9 million Twitter/X followers, has seemingly deleted her profile following the intense transgender feud against OutKick’s Riley Gaines, host of “Gaines for Girls.”

Twitter/X users started sharing screenshots Sunday of Biles’ account leading to an error message, and this is how word got around that she may have nuked the account entirely.

The beef sparked up after Biles came at Gaines for wanting to keep transgender (biological male) athletes out of female sports.

“@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser,” posted Biles earlier in June. (RELATED: ESPN’s Clownshow Continues As Rebecca Lobo Ridiculously Apologizes For Saying ‘Makes America Great’)

“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. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them… One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!” Biles said.

This led to even more personal attacks from Biles, including comparing Gaines to a man. But we all know the story: Biles ended up backtracking on her transgender support and issuing an apology to Gaines, giving the conservative activist the victory in their beef.

But it appears that none of Biles’ public relations moves have worked, and that has resulted in her now deleting her Twitter account.

Riley Gaines issued the following response on the matter:

Talk about getting thrashed … like damn, how do you lose a beef this bad?