Simone Biles doesn't want anyone picking on kids.
The seven-time Olympic champion tried to add some clarity to her exchange last week with anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines, apologizing for her personal criticism but doubling down on her feelings about Gaines' attacks on kids.
"My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes — especially kids — should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over," Biles wrote Tuesday.
OPINION: Simone Biles shows her greatness again in standing up for transgender community | Opinion
Gaines has made a career out of attacking the participation of transgender women athletes since tying Lia Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships in 2022. She routinely uses her platform to mock and demean transgender athletes, many of whom are minors.
