It is not often that a figure as decorated and self-possessed as Simone Biles withdraws from the public sphere. Even rarer is her return in silence. When the most decorated gymnast of the modern era quietly resurfaced on Twitter. Without fanfare, explanation, or a single word about the storm that preceded her exit. It signaled something deeper than a simple change of heart. The timing, the omissions, and the unmistakable control of narrative suggest a deliberate recalibration rather than mere reconciliation.
In early June, Biles had joined a contentious exchange with former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who has positioned herself prominently in the national discourse around transgender athletes in women’s sports. Gaines had criticized a Minnesota high school softball team for fielding a trans player, a comment that provoked widespread discussion. Gaines posted on X about Champlin Park High in Minnesota winning a softball state title. Gaines wrote, “Comments off lol….” Biles, responding initially with firmness, soon retreated, issuing a public apology to Gaines. The exchange unfolded publicly, drawing strong reactions from supporters and critics alike, and ended with Biles removing herself from the platform altogether.
Her reappearance on the site, however, is what now warrants closer attention. Although her 1.9 million followers remain and her profile is intact, every post related to the Gaines controversy has been carefully scrubbed. Her account, until recently inaccessible, shows no trace of the disagreement that led to her disappearance. The last visible activity is dated August 2, 2024. And that is almost a year before the recent controversy. This suggests that the reactivation was not intended as a return to dialogue but as a restoration of digital presence, minus the noise.
This quiet return occurs against a significant backdrop in the same policy arena. The University of Pennsylvania, whose handling of trans athlete Lia Thomas drew similar scrutiny, has now agreed to both apologize to the female swimmers who competed against Thomas and retroactively remove Thomas’s titles. The school will also return the awards and records to the women originally displaced. That such an institutional about-face coincides with Biles’s reentry, albeit muted, into the digital fray adds a layer of meaning that cannot easily be dismissed.
Final: Artistic gymnastics – Paris 2024 – Floor August 05 2024: Simone Biles United States of America competes during floor final on Day 10 of the Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS at Bercy Arena, Paris, France.
Biles has neither commented on the university’s reversal nor resumed public engagement, which may be the point. Her silence serves, intentionally or not, as a counterweight to the chaos that prompted her withdrawal. Whether she intends to speak again or simply maintain a presence remains unknown. But her reappearance, stripped of commentary, may be her most carefully measured message to date. Meanwhile, away from all the chaos, Biles is currently enjoying herself in a romantic getaway. And her partner in crime? Jonathan Owens, as always.
The story is developing…
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