Overview

• On June 23, Simone Biles deactivated her X account after intense criticism of her online exchanges with former swimmer Riley Gaines.
• The public clash began June 6 when Gaines mocked a Minnesota high school softball team for featuring a transgender pitcher, prompting Biles to defend the athlete.
• Biles issued a public apology for personal attacks, including body-shaming Gaines, which Gaines accepted even as she maintained her opposition to trans women in sports.
• Former teammate MyKayla Skinner joined the controversy by accusing Biles of past bullying, highlighting internal rifts within the gymnastics community.
• The episode has reignited a national debate over how sports organizations should balance competitive fairness and the inclusion of transgender athletes.