Weeks after her fiery online exchange with conservative activist Riley Gaines, Olympic champion Simone Biles has broken her silence with a cryptic but powerful message.
“Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive,” Biles, 28, posted to her Instagram Stories on Monday, June 23 — a remark widely interpreted as a reference to the online firestorm she recently endured.
The post comes shortly after Biles deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account, a move that did not go unnoticed by Gaines, who commented on the departure Sunday, writing: “Sad to see such a phenom go down like this.”
A Social Media Firestorm
The tension between Biles and Gaines erupted earlier this month following Gaines’ anti-trans remarks about a transgender softball player. Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, made the comments while criticizing a celebratory post from the Minnesota State High School League that acknowledged transgender participation in sports.
Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history and an outspoken advocate for inclusivity, clapped back at Gaines in a now-deleted post, referencing Gaines’ long-running activism on the issue.
“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,” Biles wrote on June 6. “Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive — OR creating a new avenue where trans [people] feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category in all sports!”
She didn’t hold back in a follow-up post, adding: “But instead… you bully them. No one in sports is safe with you around!!!” In another pointed jab, Biles wrote: “Bully someone your own size — which would ironically be a male.”
Gaines Fires Back — Then Biles Clarifies
Gaines, 25, who rose to prominence after racing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA Championships, responded to Biles’ comments with sharp criticism.
“So disappointing,” she wrote, accusing Biles of “body shaming” and being a “male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams.”
The exchange quickly drew national attention, igniting an already charged debate surrounding transgender inclusion in competitive sports.
A few days later, Biles returned to social media to clarify her stance and apologize for getting personal in her comments about Gaines.
“I’ve always believed competitive equity and inclusivity are both essential in sport,” Biles posted on June 10. “The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges. And it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”
A Bigger Conversation
Gaines has since revealed that she is expecting her first child, and has remained vocal about what she views as threats to women’s sports. Biles, meanwhile, has chosen a quieter approach following her apology — culminating in her exit from X and her reflective Instagram post about surviving “madness.”
While neither woman has commented further, the exchange has spotlighted an ongoing cultural and political rift over how sports should accommodate transgender athletes — and what it means to balance fairness with inclusion.
In the midst of this divisive conversation, Biles’ final message appears to be less about taking sides and more about resilience in the face of controversy.
As the debate continues beyond social media, her words echo: “Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive.”