Biles hasn’t always had a smooth ride in her journey in gymnastics. Apart from constant criticism and the naysayers she also had to deal with crumbling mental health and losses on the mat. But, perhaps any of those were as troubling for her as her first brush with racist comments. Biles had to deal with the humiliation of being dished out racial slurs at the age of 16. And that too, after being a champion.
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Simone Biles was a target of racial dialogue
The year was 2013 and 16-year-old Simone had just been crowned a winner of the World Gymnastic Championships. But her moment of the win was cut short by an unforeseen occurrence. While Simone became the first black woman to bag the all-around badge, Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito was placed at 11th. Ferlito, unable to take her loss, blasted a deeply racist statement against Biles. This was deeply hurtful for obvious reasons and the Olympian later wrote about it in her autobiography.
via Getty
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 25: Simone Biles of Team United States looks on during Women’s Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Simone said in the book, “I could easily forgive what Carlotta said but the Italian Gymnastics Federation spokesperson’s statement did bother me a bit. It implied that a power gymnast could not also be artistic and graceful, and also that power and grace were somehow tied to a person’s race. I absolutely didn’t agree.”
Biles was taken aback by another gymnast’s comments about race and strength. And she wanted to show the world, that no matter what your ethnicity is, it “shouldn’t have anything to do with the color of your skin”.
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Simone’s win streak remains uninterrupted
I’ve teamed up with @FriendsNational to celebrate National Foster Care and Mental Health Awareness Month! I loved meeting 100+ youth this week in programs across the country. The children, their stories, and their resiliency are inspiring! #PutChildrenFirst #MentalHealthMatters pic.twitter.com/24UzDOGOCm
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) May 19, 2022
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It is simply worth mentioning how despite multiple setbacks, this gymnast is not ready to back down yet. She glides effortlessly, both on the mat and in life. Her win streak is never ending in both personal and professional life and that’s what makes her the GOAT. That’s why she remains the hero for many.
WATCH THIS STORY: Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles Reveals Unknown Facts About Her Relationship With Bestfriend Rachel.
