Simone Biles is undoubtedly the G.O.A.T. of gymnastics. However, she has her fair share of competition whenever she is on the mat, as she has her rivals waiting for her to make a single mistake and take an opportunity out of it. This rivalry aspect doesn’t only stick to gymnastics but extends beyond its boundaries, as whenever the athlete is selected for an award, she meets a high-caliber opponent. One such rivalry of hers is with the American basketball star Caitlin Clark, who currently plays for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.

The highest-paid female athletes of 2024 featured them together, with the gymnast ranking higher than her off-sport rival. It’s not like they aren’t friends with each other; Biles has been seen multiple times on the court watching her game. However, they continue to share a unique battle outside of their respective sports, often receiving nominations for the same awards. This time, too, the fate of the gymnast and the basketball player has intertwined again, making them the nominees for a prominent accolade.

Simone Biles faces off against the WNBA star

So where are they featured for an award? They have received nominations for the BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year 2024 award, along with four other athletes from various sports. The annual award has six contestants who will be present during the show, live on BBC One on Tuesday, 17 December, according to a report by BBC. And who are these other four except for Simone Biles and Caitlin Clark?

The list also consists of Swiss wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, Dutch Olympian Shifa Hassan, and French swimmer Leon Marchand. All of these sportsmen and sportswomen have settled the standard of their performance on top of their respective sport and have been selected by none other than the public itself to be a part of this honorable event, where one of them would be crowned.

The BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year award features such kinds of athletes due to their incredible performances throughout the season. For Biles, her comeback to gymnastics has showcased what a mentally healed athlete can do when they come back after a big break to their adored sport. She had to get away from gymnastics due to the twisties back during the Tokyo Olympics. However, since 2023 she has been on a roll, winning major events, and she redeemed herself as the G.O.A.T. in Paris, owing to her three gold medals in the all-around, vault, and team events, and a silver in the floor exercise.

Regarding the basketball player, the Indiana Fever selected Clark as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. However, the college phenom had an immediate impact in her inaugural season in the league, setting regular-season marks for assists (337), points (769), and three-pointers (122). She’s also one of the most popular female basketball players, with a large audience waiting for her to put the ball in the hoop.

Both of these sportswomen have a huge fan base, and getting nominated for so many voting awards is common due to their popularity. However, Biles has consistently outperformed Clark, who not only ranks among the highest-paid female athletes of the 2024 list but also enjoys a large following among younger fans worldwide.

G.O.A.T. of gymnastics winning over a younger fanbase’s hearts

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards have plenty of nominations featuring major athletes all over the world. Patrick Star and SpongeBob SquarePants hosted the annual event this year, generating significant excitement among the children who are the primary viewers of these shows. Undoubtedly, the kids were captivated by numerous awards and performances, but the highlight of the event was the selection of the Favorite Female Sports Star.

Names like Sha’Carri Richardson, Venus Williams, Alex Morgan, Caitlin Clark, Coco Gauff, and Simone Biles battled in this category, but as the winner can be one, the children’s favorite was none other than the G.O.A.T. of gymnastics. Biles won the award for the fourth time in a row, making history, owing to her performances in the US Championships and the Core Hydration Classics. This award was also given before the Paris Olympics, so the world had no clue what was about to come next from the American gymnast.