Anti-trans activist and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was called out after she boasted about getting a "groveling" apology from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles just days after Biles criticized her for regularly attacking the transgender community for participating in sports instead of promoting inclusivity.
Last week, Biles ridiculed Gaines in a post on X after Gaines complained about a recent victory by a Minnesota high school softball team that has become a focus of conservative media attention due to the reported inclusion of a transgender girl on the roster.
Biles called Gaines "truly sick" for fixating on transgender issues since coming in fifth place in the NCAA freestyle final with a transgender woman, a development Gaines has said amounts to being deprived of a regular victory. Biles said Gaines is a "bully" and that "no one in sports is safe with you [Gaines] around."
Biles did apologize afterward but she did not change her stance; she merely said she was sorry for the personal insults:
“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, which I apologize for.”
"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 be 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.”
But Gaines suggested Biles came to her "groveling" since "tweeting pro-trans propaganda":
“I accept her apology. I see this truthfully as a really big win. You have this really famous public figure who is now issuing a groveling and backtracks after, again, tweeting pro-trans propaganda, if you will, this scenario would have been unthinkable a year, certainly two years ago.”
“Whether it’s sincere or not, I think that’s a different question, but nonetheless, she learned we are not living in 2020 anymore."
You can hear what she said in the video below.
Gaines was swiftly called out.
Given that Gaines recently made headlines for complaining that the University of Maryland should have been "honoring entrepreneurs or veterans or innovators" instead of having Kermit the Frog give a commencement speech at a graduation ceremony, we probably shouldn't be taking her too seriously.
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