Following a heated debate with former swimmer Riley Gaines, Simone Biles has apologized. Over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, the pair broke out into a heated argument. But on Tuesday, Biles made amends for her statements against Gaines and stressed the duty of sports organizations to strike a balance between diversity and fair competition.

The conflict between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines

According to the American gymnast, sports must prioritize "competitive equity & inclusivity." "The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles, which frequently results in annoyance and fierce arguments, and it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for," she continued.

“My objection is to singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful,” Simone Biles added. The target of criticism of a broken system over which they have no influence should never be individual athletes, particularly children. "We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful," she concluded her article.

Riley Gaines responds

The former swimmer stated that she accepted the apology. Riley Gaines dubbed Simone Biles the "greatest female gymnast of all time" and encouraged her "to support fair sports and a future for female athletes. Little girls deserve the same shot to achieve that you had."

Controversy between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines

A war of words erupted between the two athletes last week after Gaines criticized Minnesota's Champlin Park softball team for reportedly including a 17-year-old trans player in their squad. This caught the attention of Biles, who called Gaines “sick” and a “sore loser.” The feud escalated, with the 11-time Olympic medalist calling on Gaines to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

There has been a long-running debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard stance on the matter, passing an executive order in February to remove transgender athletes from sports that didn't match their biological sex.

Who is Simone Biles?

She is an American gymnast who has won 11 medals at the Olympics.

How many Olympic gold medals has Simone Biles won?

The gymnast has seven Olympic gold medals to her name.

What is Simone Biles famous for?

She became the first female American gymnast to win four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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