When Donnell Whittenburg, 30, confirmed the news to enter 27-year-old Simone Biles’s Gold Over America Tour (GOAT), the gymnastics fans dropped tears of emotion. After all, the GOAT was scheduled to host two such gymnasts who had often found themselves bludgeoned by the critics because of their ages. However, both Biles and Whittenburg have never had that painful feeling reflected in their sports. While Simone has demolished the question marks on her fitness because of her age by winning the Olympic all-around title, the latter earned the “The heart of a Lion” title for his effort in the Olympic trials. So, the G.O.A.T. tour had been expected to be the moment to see them side by side. 

Yet, the turns of fate had something different in mind. It has made Donnell Whittenburg leave the stage midway. However, once again, his perseverance has found admirers in his colleagues, including Simone Biles. 

Donnell Whittenburg accepts the lemons of his journey 

On September 23, on the day of the G.O.A.T. show in Salt Lake City, Whittenburg broke the news of his exiting the tour through a social media post. The contributing reason behind his untimely exit is an injury. But coming to 30 years of age, the Baltimore native had a unique way to put it on Instagram.

Donnell Whittenburg’s note depicts the discomforting situation where one has to prefer something bigger than his/her profession. The philosophical note goes, “It’s tough to step away, especially all the work I put in. But health comes first.” That sentiment made him again stand in a position where Simone had been three years ago, in Tokyo. And surprisingly, both of them left the stage, instructing others to stand tall. 

In Tokyo, while packing before her bowing out, Biles encouraged her compatriots to savor the moment, as for them, it was their first Olympic experience in their career. Here, in Salt Lake City, Donnell Whittenburg stamped a similar message after leaving the grandeur: “enjoy the tour and continue to stay GOLDEN ⭐️.” The status of his injury has yet to be known.

But it seems to take away a sizable chunk of the rest of the gymnastics season. That stands to be a tremendous blow for him. Especially after facing failure in the Paris Olympics trials, his eyes are set on the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, scheduled in Jakarta next year. Now that appearance chance is facing a question mark. However, his colleagues wished him a speedy recovery, saluting his endurance in life. 

Simone Biles joins others to wish the ‘Don Don’ a speedy recovery 

Since September 16, Donnell Whittenburg has been an invaluable part of the GOAT tour with all his supportive roles on the mat. The tour already covered more than 5 destinations with him. Now, as he has bowed out of the schedule, the loss has felt to be staggering. Furthermore, the rumor has it that the former world championship medalist has come again under the claw of an Achilles injury, the same that had dismissed Kayla DiCello’s dream of the Paris Olympics. But his colleagues don’t want to pay heed to that. Rather, they celebrated Donnell’s performance that he left behind on GOAT’s platform. 

That led Jade Carrey to pen, “you’re the best don don!!” The former Olympic floor exercise had been stomping her feet with Whittenburg in the GOAT tour this time. So she had the chance to witness him face-to-face. Naturally, that glee made her reveal her awe of him. Christine Lee, aka Peng Peng Lee, reflected the same fandom for her injured co-gymnast. In the comment box, she dropped, “UR THE BEST WE MISS U ALREADY.” Those words show what impact Whittenburg had left in the camp in seven days. 

Now talking about the impact, Katelyn Ohashi recalled her joy when she had the chance to see Donnell on the floor of the GOAT. She also narrated a similar tone in her comment, “you are such a bright light don! thinking of you every time we step on the floor!” She also comes from an age that has often been touted as being overage in gymnastics. But this time, the relevance of the GOAT tour has been to unify the gymnasts regardless of their ages. So when Simone Biles dropped her symbolic message for Whittenburg, the situation came full circle.

In the comment box, the most decorated gymnast put “🤍🤍” for the 3-time Pan American Games champion. That signifies the pure and deep love Biles nurtures for her co-gymnast. In the meantime, Kayla DiCello, the gymnast who had to lose her Olympic dream because of an Achilles injury, came to share the agony. In the comment box, she summed up, “praying for a speedy recovery 🤍.” That held the day for Donnell Whittenburg. The gymnastics fan will be looking forward to seeing him soon on the floor again.