Simone Biles is an American hero.
She is not a hero for pulling out of these (likely her last) Olympics.
Rather she is a hero for everything she’s done leading up to these Olympics where stunningly impressive athletic specimens like Charlie Kirk, Seth Dillon & Matt Walsh have mercilessly hammered her. Without mercy and with a bit too much glee they are engaging a fight for fight’s sake. They are also either purposefully ignoring or ignorantly unaware of some rather important relevant facts.
One of the most simple of which is, do they have even an inkling of what it is to propel oneself at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour down a runway and launch yourself 20 feet in the air and not severely injure your spine in doing so?
This seems reasonably important as now overwhelming numbers of fellow gymnasts are weighing in. The consensus by competitors and allies alike is that the vault that Biles attempted to perform—and the poor execution of how she performed it—very likely could have blown her knee, snapped her spine, paralyzed her for life or worse. The only thing that allowed her to avoid it was the extreme skill it took to land herself as best she could. Many of the world’s top gymnasts have experienced what Biles did, some did not come out without severe outcomes. All those who know, including her USA teammates were both frightened for her, then greatly relieved when she was able to walk back to the bench. Yet in the face of such danger Charlie Kirk not only called Biles a sociopath on his radio show, he then doubled down posting the clip to his social media. He even went so far as to title the clip on Instagram: “Charlie Kirk takes down selfish Simone Biles after disgraceful Olympic decision.”
Perhaps the biggest reason Kirk, Dillon, Walsh and others should cease their criticisms of Biles also has to do with truly understanding Biles’ contribution to the sport. For comparison imagine the NFL next year deciding to allow any touchdown pass thrown by Tom Brady was worth only 4 points—only because it was thrown by Brady. Or for Michael Jordan every poetic shot or powerful dunk being worth only 1 point again because it was Jordan who did it. These are the equivalent measures the International Olympic Committee had taken purely because Biles had mastered the hardest aspects of the sport with such expertise. She has not only attempted elements, endings, and moves never before tried by women—she’s mastered them. If she was scored fairly on most of her apparatuses she’d be 2 full points ahead on nearly every attempt.
It would also appear that Kirk, Dillon, Walsh and others do not understand the virtue in giving up personal ambition for the sake of the larger good. Even with an entire system rigged against her Biles competed and prepared hard to go all out for these Olympic Games. On her way to Tokyo she set new historical precedents. In doing so she also set herself up to make more history at the games. A more selfish teammate would have arrogantly shrugged off the miss on the most difficult vault being attempted and convinced themselves of their “right” to press on regardless of how it impacted the rest of her team. But Biles knew something was a miss. In her highly criticized press conference following the team competition Biles indicated that she had had a hard time getting the mental clarity that she had previously depended on to perform (with near perfection) her dangerous routines. For more than five hours before the competition she had been unable to rest, think clearly, and mentally prepare. Her hunch that something was “off” became evident in her single vault. Her score telling the true story. Scoring the fourth lowest score of the night and scoring so badly that she already perhaps had cost Team USA the gold, she had no personal desire to force her poor performance into the team score of the rest of her teammates. By doing so she allowed the remaining three to come very close to grabbing the gold despite her dangerously executed poor vault. With likely equally dangerous routines planned for beam and floor routine she and only she could make the decision.
Kirk, Dillon, Walsh and others also seemed to have no real sense of what Simone Biles has already accomplished, and continues to stand for. In her youthful mid-twenties, in her tiny but powerful body Simone Biles has more world Championships than Michael Jordan & Tom Brady combined. She stands alone as the single most accomplished athlete in her sport full stop. She has perfected moves that 99% of male gymnasts refuse to attempt. And she has done all of it with her hand on heart, wrapped in the flag, grateful to bring her nation honor. Even when controversy swooped in on her teammate in Rio, Biles saluted her flag and represented her nation with pride.
And she always has…
"Simone Biles has been making America and Houston proud for YEARS. She has been the woman in the arena, a place that internet trolls know nothing about," Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) tweeted. "We can be disappointed in her decision, but until you’re the one stepping up to win gold, maybe sit this one out."
Based on how they responded, Simone Biles’ teammates knew exactly why she withdrew from the competition. Secretly deep inside she knows the pain she feels at not being able to add to her medal count.
So because she has overcome every obstacle in front of her on her way to 19 titles. Because she was victimized by the sexual abuser that traumatized so many Olympians. Because the entire sport rigged itself in an effort to purposefully discourage her. Because that same sport even went so far as to single her out and punish her. Because she has accomplished thousands of successful attempts at dangerous and life threatening moves away from the cameras just to be her best. Because she salutes her flag every time she wins. Because she put her team’s goals above her own with her selfless actions. Because of all of these things and the many moments of genuine amazement she has instilled in the next generation of gymnasts. And because she is simply the greatest of all time…
Charlie Kirk please STOP calling her sociopath.
And to Kirk, Dillon, Walsh and others who claim to fight the fight for what is true, just, and good everyday, extend a bit of grace and mercy, as Christians it’s best thing you could do.
That and apologize for the horrid things you’ve said about her this week.
You owe her that.