Simone Biles deletes X-Account after dispute over transorters

If you are looking for X for Simone Biles, you will find many posts about the gymnast, but no more from her. The 28-year-old deactivated her account with the online network-apparently as a result of an examination of the former swimmer Riley Gaines.

It was about the role of transathletes in sports. A hotly discussed topic in which the opinions repeatedly collide. So also between Biles, with 30 World Cup medals and eleven times Olympic Elympia precision, the most successful gymnast in the world, and Gaines, once successful college swimmer and today conservative activist.

As such, Gaines has long spoke out against the participation of trans women in women’s competitions. At the beginning of the month, she commented on a photo of a softball girl team from Minnesota on X. The team had just won a high school championship, one of the athletes was a transperson. “The comments are on display. What was to be expected when the star player is a boy,” said Gaines.

Simone Biles, in turn, reacted to this statement with an emotional comment. “You are really sick,” wrote the gymnast, and accused Gaines of “bullying” transgender people: “Nobody in sport is certain as long as you are there.” The ex-swimmer runs a campaign because she “lost a race”, Biles claimed.

With this she alluded to a swimming competition in 2022, in which Gaines and the trans -wife Lia Thomas took fifth place at the same time. The case made international headlines, Gaines later complained of Thomas’ participation in women’s competitions. In her replica, on the other hand, Biles called for “making sports more inclusive”. She suggested thinking about a transcategory in all sports.

A real exchange of blows between the two athletes developed. Gaines countered that it was not their job to think about ways how men could be included in women’s sports. She called the reaction of Biles “disappointing”. Of course, other users also interfered with more or less substantial comments and sometimes got harsh answers.

Simone Biles later apologized for the personal attacks on Riley Gaines. She also has no solution for this complicated topic, wrote the exceptional gymnast, but emphasized: “I think empathy and respect are the basis.”

Gaines accepted the apology, but could not help but another controversial statement. She pointed out that Biles and other US gymnasts experienced sexual abuse by the former team doctor Larry Nassar. This was as contrary to her attitudes towards transathletes. Biles then withdrew not only from the discussion, but completely from the network. Your accounts are still active on other social media platforms like Instagram.

The discussion about trans women in women’s sports has been running for years, especially in the United States. Critics such as Gaine’s fear of competition, the opposite side demands more inclusion. There are still no uniform regulations, depending on the sport and association, the topic is handled differently.

The International Athletics Association does not allow athletes who have undergone male puberty. Transmen may only start in swimming if gender conversion took place before the age of twelve. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order after taking office that categorically excludes transathletes from women’s sports.