Simone Biles Shares Mysterious Message on Instagram After Removing Account Over Trans Athlete Debate

Simone Biles Faces Backlash Over Comments on Trans Athletes

Simone Biles has decided to stop reading messages from social media users after a significant backlash regarding her views on trans athletes. This comes in light of her interaction with Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and advocate for women in sports, which drew criticism from various corners online.

Though she seems quieter on some fronts, Biles is still active on Instagram, where she has more than 12 million followers. Recently, she posted a message commenting on “madness” that seemed cryptic to many. “Strength comes from the madness we survive,” she wrote.

Earlier this month, Biles had an exchange with Gaines, which quickly highlighted her perceived gaps in understanding regarding trans athlete participation. The conversation intensified following a championship win by Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete who competed against women, causing further discussion around the topic.

A photo of the winning team, which included Rothenberger, was shared on social media, but the comments were disabled, perhaps anticipating the reactions. It sparked discussions about the implications of having a biological male in a female sports category.

Then, out of the blue, Biles critiqued Gaines. She claimed the uproar was more about Gaines’ loss than the broader conversation about inclusion. “It’s about raising the trans community and making sports inclusive,” she contended, suggesting the idea of introducing more categories to accommodate trans athletes.

In response, Gaines and supporters sought to inform Biles about the advantages that biological males can have in sports, leading to significant pushback against Biles’ comments. Eventually, she retracted her statements, issuing an apology to Gaines.

“I wanted to clarify my previous tweet,” Biles said. “I’ve always believed in both competitive fairness and inclusion in sports. However, the current structure often doesn’t fairly balance these essential themes, resulting in frustration and heated exchanges.”

On Sunday, Gaines noted that Biles had deleted her social media account, remarking on the situation with a blend of sarcasm and criticism. “An unpopular and morally questionable stance, ridiculed, followed by an earnest apology and a deleted account—it’s as if it never happened,” she observed.