Spark volley of criticism
McKinnon, 36, added: ‘‘You realise I’m a world champion trans woman athlete?’’
Navratilova apologised after deleting her original tweet but she hit back after McKinnon’s scathing comments continued, saying: ‘‘Rachel, you might be an expert on all things trans but you are one nasty human being.’’
McKinnon regularly tweets about transgender topics.
Earlier, Navratilova said: ‘‘I am sorry if I said anything anywhere near transphobic – certainly I meant no harm. I will educate myself better on this issue but meantime I will be quiet about it.’’
Navratilova added that she did not regret her original comment but McKinnon’s criticism went on.
She said: ‘‘It doesn’t change the fact that you did something very wrong today. Past good deeds don’t give someone a pass.’’
McKinnon this month told the BBC she received more than 100,000 hate messages on Twitter after her world championships success in October.
Jen Wagner-Assali, who finished third in the event, called McKinnon’s victory unfair and wanted cycling’s international governing body to change the rules.
Navratilova, who is widely considered the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, came out as bisexual in 1981 and she is an activist for LGBT rights.