Simone Biles Defends Her Gesture On Olympic Podium Amid Critics

The decorated gymnast was the target of criticism from Marlon Humphrey from the NFL

She might be the most decorated gymnast of all time, but sadly that hasn’t prevented Simone Biles from receiving a slew of criticism online.

The seven time gold medallist has fortunately developed a thick skin, and frequently hits back at people who decide to take issue with her online.

This has included everything from spectators taunting her during the Paris Olympics, even though she has added three gold medals to her tally.

The gymnast has even been criticised over the way she styles her hair.

Frankly, walking away with three gold medals in the face of such criticism only adds to the achievement.

But it seems that on this occasion it was more than the viewers and regular keyboard warriors at home who took issue.

One famous face decided to take to his keyboard to criticise Biles, who has been described as the greatest gymnast of all time.

This is literally disgusting https://t.co/zKdrsOLnwd

— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) August 5, 2024

This was NFL player Marlon Humphrey, who took issue with the way that Biles and her teammate Jordan Chiles reacted to Brazilian winner Rebeca Andrade.

While posing on the podium with their medals, Biles and Chiles took a moment to bow down to the gold medallist in a show of sportsmanship and respect for their fellow athlete.

This was the first gold medal that Andrade had won over the summer, and was posted on Twitter by SportCenter.

But Humphrey was not impressed by the gesture of respect to a fellow athlete, even calling it ‘literally disgusting’. Bit harsh.

Speaking to the TODAY show on August 6, Biles defended the gesture.

She said: “I think it’s all about sportsmanship, and we don’t care whether we win or lose.

“We’re always going to keep a good face and support our competitors because they’ve worked just as hard as we have for that moment.”

She added: “You have to give them their flowers and that’s exactly what me and Jordan were doing.

“We were so happy for her. She deserved it, she had the best floor routine of the day, and of the Olympics.”

And Biles was not the only person who was left unimpressed by Humphrey’s post.

One wrote: “God forbid athletes show respect to a fellow athlete who has suffered a torn ACL multiple times.”

A second posted: “Yeah, because giving someone their flowers who has come back from THREE ACL tears to continue to be a top gymnast is disgusting.”

Meanwhile, in a stinging rebuke, a third told him to ‘get to a final and win something. Then you can talk.’