Simone Biles Leaves Olympics Beaming: Unchecked

Simone Biles proved she is tougher than any of her critics in returning to capture a bronze medal on balance beam.

I know this much, Simone Biles is a hell of a lot tougher than any of her critics. And getting up on that beam, on the biggest stage, after seemingly everyone in the world had something to say about her over the last week sure seems tough to me.

Simone Biles does a double pike dismount, which she hasn’t done in approximately 9 years! What a wonderful performance! https://t.co/r1y7ceKyhG

— Poor Lawyer (@poorlawyer) August 3, 2021

I also promise that the vast majority of those who went over the top in questioning her character are about to shut up. Not just because she returned to competition but since she is about to leave the limelight that is the Olympics and given they never cared about gymnastics anyway.

On Today Show, Simone Biles says she went to athlete village after pulling out of team event, expecting to feel embarrassed. Then, one athlete after another came up to her - to thank her:

"In that moment I was like, 'There's more than gymnastics and medals.'" #Tokyo2020

— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) August 3, 2021

This is why it was always most important for her to do what was best for herself. Personally, I didn’t call her a hero for withdrawing, but I certainly didn’t call her a quitter either. What she is is a human, one who happens to be the greatest gymnast any of us will likely ever see.

SIMONE BILES WINS BRONZE IN THE BALANCE BEAM 👏

That's her seventh career Olympic medal, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most by any athlete in gymnastics in Team USA history 🐐 pic.twitter.com/fvdiVW6j0Z

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 3, 2021

So after everything, the bronze medal she won may turn out to have extra significance, but it also added to her Olympic legacy in a more matter-of-fact way as she is now tied for the most medals by any athlete in USA gymnastics history, boasting more gold than anyone. Hence the whole GOAT thing.

JUST IN: “It means more than all of the golds because I’ve pushed through so much the last five years and the last week while I’ve even been here.” -@Simone_Biles tells @hodakotb about winning bronze in the balance beam finals at the #TokyoOlympics. https://t.co/FuFJbTBTqg pic.twitter.com/gbbIcZB6jo

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 3, 2021

However, perhaps the mettle she showed in returning could ultimately have the most meaning.

Because following all the coverage and opinions her struggle received, she managed to emerge from it with a smile on her face... beaming if you will.