Simone Biles is on a winning streak this year, and the applause keeps getting louder. She’s not just rewriting the record books, but shattering them as the most decorated gymnast-male or female. After securing her spot at the Paris Olympics, she clinched the prestigious ESPN Award for Best Comeback Performance on July 12th. Adding to her triumph, a celebratory Instagram post by Togethxr showed a picture of Simone Biles and Sydney McLaughlin, both of whom qualified for Paris. What was intriguing was the staggering viewership of their journeys, which left the critics eating their words.

Female athletes often face the unjust stereotype that women are weaker and less athletic than men. This outdated perception not only misrepresents reality but also hinders progress toward equal recognition in sports. Even many sports fans argue that women’s sports are boring compared to men’s. Also, female athletes are paid less than men because they generate less money. However, recent events are turning the tide and credit goes much to Simone Biles. The Team USA gymnastics trials, which include Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and more, for instance, drew an impressive average of 7.6 million viewers. It was peaking at 8.2 million which is a clear testament to the growing wave of support for women’s sports.

Similarly, the track and field trials experienced a thrilling 38% surge in viewership, totaling 4.5 million over 8 exhilarating nights of competition. These figures show a shifting paradigm, where women’s athletic achievements are gaining rightful prominence and proving their prowess beyond doubt. The post was captioned as ‘the girls just know how to put on a show.’ Sunday’s Team USA trials marked the most-watched Olympic qualifying day in 8 years.” Well, Biles being Biles wouldn’t sit back and watch this post. She reshared this on Instagram with a beautiful caption: ‘Pssssttt, what’s that thing they say about women’s sports?’ This shows she is championing women’s sports with passion, earning a $16 million net worth that surpasses many male gymnasts. Yet, despite her success, many female athletes continue to face relentless criticism about their bodies.

Simone Biles and others facing criticism

Even the most accomplished female athletes endure harsh criticism, which can be more damaging than constructive. Serena Williams, one of tennis’s greatest players, has faced unwarranted scrutiny over her physical appearance, criticized as ‘too muscular‘ by detractors who prioritize looks over talent. Such critiques are especially detrimental to young athletes still finding their footing, implying that self-worth hinges on appearance rather than skill. But Biles too faced it!

Simone Biles has also faced body shaming in her career. During a 2013 competition, a coach called Biles,” she’s too fat”- a factor in a performance setback. Deeply affected by the comment, Biles withdrew briefly to gather herself. Despite the setback, she turned the experience into motivation, pushing herself even harder toward her goals. This incident was just one instance of the challenges she encountered.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, with an impressive haul of five Olympic medals, including four golds, all by the age of 19. but still, Biles faced criticism from body-shaming trolls when she posted a cheerful Instagram photo of herself in a white halter top and dark shorts, the trolling comments flooded in almost immediately. Some commenters resorted to crude insults, calling her “ugly”. However, rather than ignoring the negativity, Biles responded directly to her detractors on Twitter. “You can judge my body all you want, but at the end of the day it’s MY body,” she asserted. “I love it & I’m comfortable in my skin.”

Simone Biles has undeniably carved out a name for herself in gymnastics. When it comes to the sport, her name rings like a bell above all others. With an impressive 37 medals to her name with, she has achieved a success that rivals, if not surpass, that of any male gymnast.