“I Was Like Crying”: Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles Once Revealed How a Mean Comment at 2013 US Classics Left Her in Tears

Simone Biles etched her name in Olympic history with her record-setting performance at Rio. After the 2016 Olympics, the young gymnast became a superstar. The seven-time Olympic medalist rose to fame, after her stellar performance at the world championships in 2013. From then until 2019, Biles won 19 gold medals at the world championships.

A few months before the 2013 world championships, Simone had one of her worst meets. Furthermore, the fan’s comments made it even worse. During a 2016 interview, the four-time Olympic gold medalist opened up about the incident. 

Simone Biles opened up about how bad she felt

Simone Biles doesn’t have fond memories of the 2013 Secret US Classic. During an interview in 2016, the Olympic gold medalist said, “In 2013, I had a really bad meet. You could look it up. 2013 classics. It was a real bad.” Simone was unable to perform at her best. She said, “I fell almost on every event… I like landed on my face in my floor routine.”

However, bad turned to worse for the gymnastics prodigy. After her performance, a fan had less than kind words for Biles. “Someone was like you’re just too overweight. That’s why that happened like you’re fat. So I like went behind the curtain and I was like crying,” said Simone. Biles who had struggled with body shaming in the past didn’t take the criticism well.

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The Olympic gold medalist is an elite athlete who must maintain a strict diet and weight to perform at her best. Simone knew she was in shape. However, after a disappointing performance, she wasn’t in good spirits. “So it was hurtful to hear that, even though I knew it wasn’t true,” said the olympian.

Biles also went to a sports psychologist after the 2013 classic. However, she had problems opening up at first. Simone had the idea that only mentally ill people visit a psychologist and wanted to leave. After the therapist cleared her misconception, Biles opened up. Simone said, “I felt really good about it.”

Redemption on the world stage

Just about three months after the Classic, Simone Biles took part in the World Championships. Biles finished fourth in the uneven bars. However, she won medals in every other event. Biles won bronze on the balance beam, silver on the vault, and gold for the floor routine. The young gymnast capped it off with a gold in the most prestigious event, the all-around. 

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While Biles didn’t do well in the 2013 Classic and the mean comment affected her mental health, she came back stronger. Biles won two golds at worlds in 2013, four in 2014 and 2015, and four more in the 2016 Olympics. Biles has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest of all time.