Riley Gaines reacts to Simone Biles' 'groveling' apology: 'Big win'

Simone Biles' Apology and Initial Stance

• 💡 Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles apologized to Riley Gaines for personal attacks, after initially calling Gaines "truly sick" and a "sore loser" for opposing a biological male pitcher on a female high school team.
• 🎯 Biles' apology stated her belief in competitive equity and inclusivity in sport, but admitted getting personal with Riley was unhelpful.
• 📌 Previously, Biles had body-shamed Riley Gaines, suggesting she "bully someone your own size," ironically implying a male stature.

Riley Gaines' Response and Strategic Victory

• ✅ Riley Gaines accepted the apology, viewing it as a "really big win" because a famous public figure backtracked on what Gaines termed "pro-trans propaganda."
• 🔑 Gaines emphasized that the personal attacks did not hurt her feelings, but she took issue with the message Biles sent to younger girls who look up to her.
• 📈 She noted that such a public apology and backtrack from a prominent figure would have been unthinkable a year or two ago.

Backlash Against Biles' Apology and Call for Action

• 💬 Riley shared examples of extreme hatred directed at Simone Biles on social media for apologizing, with critics calling Gaines a "fascist monster" and Biles a "bigot fighting for mercy."
• ⚠️ Gaines highlighted that she has endured this type of hatred for three years and expressed regret that Biles is now a recipient, noting it's expected when taking such a stance.
• 🚀 Riley welcomed Simone Biles to join the fight for fairness in women's sports, suggesting she could participate in efforts like the lawsuit against the NCAA for discriminatory policies.

Redefining Competition and Equity in Sports

• 🧠 Riley Gaines clarified that while sports are inherently inclusive (anyone can play), competition is by definition exclusive, as there must be a winner.
• 💡 She described the concept of "competitive equity" as nonsensical and an oxymoron, asserting that true competition requires exclusivity.

Impact on Young Athletes and Body Shaming

• 💔 Many people, including parents, took issue with Biles' body-shaming comments, particularly her referring to Gaines as having a "male stature" despite Gaines being 5'5" and muscular.
• 👧 Riley shared an anecdote about her 16-year-old gymnast sister, who, after Biles' comments, decided that if she had to choose one role model, it would no longer be Simone Biles.

Drawing Parallels to Past Trauma in Sports

• ⚡ Riley drew a connection between the issue of biological males in women's sports spaces and the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal, which Simone Biles also experienced.
• 🚨 She illustrated this by describing the vulnerability of being in a women's swimming locker room with a 6'4" naked biological male, emphasizing that anyone normalizing such situations is "disgusting."
• 💔 Gaines expressed being heartbroken when she realized the original critical tweet from Simone Biles, whom she had previously looked up to, was authentic.