Despite their recent social media clash, Riley Gaines has expressed her willingness to collaborate with Simone Biles.
The tension began earlier this month when Gaines took to social media to criticize a high school girls’ softball team for allowing a male player to participate on their roster. In response, Biles harshly criticized Gaines, making a controversial comparison. Shortly thereafter, she issued an apology for her comments.
In a conversation with TMZ Sports, Gaines was asked about the possibility of working with Biles, to which she readily agreed.
“Absolutely,” she stated, noting her admiration for Biles. “Look, Simone is someone I’ve looked up to, I’ve respected for so long. She has done so much for women’s sports, of course, for the sport of gymnastics, but even broader than that for women in general.”
Riley Gaines Considers Simone Biles a Potential Ally
Although Riley acknowledged that Biles’ comments were hurtful, she emphasized that the impact was greater because Biles had once spoken out for young female athletes who face challenges that she did not have to contend with.
“In the blink of an eye, she effectively pulled up the ladder behind her,” Gaines articulated. “And again, a way that was, I think, done in haste. I think there was a lot of ignorance to the issue when she issued her initial tweets on that Friday evening.”
Nevertheless, Gaines still perceives Biles as a potential “fantastic ally” in her advocacy to keep men out of women’s sports.
“I think we could do a lot together if she was willing to do it,” Gaines remarked.
