Simone Biles now stands alone atop a historic mountain. The 4-foot-8 athlete holds the most medals of any American gymnast in the history of the Olympic Games. Biles and teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey along with Hezly Rivera, won gold in the women’s team event on July 30 at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. That medal became Biles’ eighth and solidified her as the most decorated American Gymnast ever.
Biles’ family, friends and fans are all celebrating the accomplishment with the Olympian. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, shared his excitement in a post to Instagram.
“Witnessing history every time you step on the mat. Congrats baby on becoming the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history!!!! Just wow!!!! 8 of them!!!!! So thankful i was there to see it,” Owens wrote.
On an Instagram Story, Biles’ sister wrote, “You deserve the entire world. Third time around and I’m still in awe of you. I love you.”
On her own Instagram Story, Biles reshared the sentiments and congratulations from her sister, husband and others. But her story also included a clap-back of epic proportion in response to an entirely different topic. One that shouldn’t even be a part of the Simone Biles conversation: her hair.
Overcoming the Criticism
Through the years Biles has faced criticism about her hair. She’s talked about her own journey to accept and embrace her hair, even touching on the topic in her recently released documentary. Still, while in Paris, her tresses again came into focus. Following a performance on Sunday, critics took to X, formally Twitter, to bash the talented Olympian’s appearance. Criticism of a Black woman’s hair is never warranted but it is especially confusing when an athlete, who is literally sweating and fighting for a win, is expected to have every hair in place.
Somehow Biles was able to address the distasteful comments toward her with a classy clap-back. On her Instagram Story she showed herself riding on a bus heading to compete.
“Don’t come for me about my hair,” she wrote over the video. “It was done but bus has no AC & it’s like 9,000 degress. Oh & a 45 min ride.”
She followed the post up with another of her on the bus.
“Gonna hold your hand when I say this,” she wrote. “Next time you wanna comment on a Black girls hair. Just don’t.”
While Biles is more than capable of defending herself, it’s deeply disheartening that she even has to. It’s clear that she hears the criticism and is forced to stand up for herself. After sharing her struggles to accept her hair, and clearly making an effort to show up as her very best, it must be painful to see that, despite it all, there are still those who will find fault. Thankfully Biles is surrounded by loved ones and of course fans who are happy to come to her defense as well.
“Congratulations, Simone, your hair does not win championships, you do,” one commenter wrote under the Olympics’ post of Biles’ win. “Forget the trolls!!! You are the best in what you do, the Queen of Gymnastics!!!!”