Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images.
A top official from Simone Biles’s native Texas is backpedaling after calling her a “national embarrassment” for pulling out of Olympic gymnastic events.
In a Wednesday tweet, Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz offered a mea culpa for his comments blasting the superstar gymnast — who resides in Spring, TX, near Houston.
“In a moment of frustration and disappointment, I opined on subjects for which I am not adequately versed,” Reitz wrote. “That was an error. I can’t imagine what Simone Biles has gone through.
“Simone Biles is a true patriot and one of the greatest gymnasts of our time. I apologize to her, and wish her well.”
In his original tweet, according to CBS, Reitz posted video of Kerri Strug’s iconic 1996 vault performance to cap off a Gold Medal win for the US. He wrote, “Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles.”
Biles, citing a need to focus on mental health, pulled out of Tuesday’s team