Yahoo News Simone Biles Explains Gesture After Bizarre Criticism By NFL Star
Simone Biles explained Tuesday why she and Jordan Chiles bowed down to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade at the Olympics after the gesture was slammed by an NFL star.
“This is literally disgusting,” Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey wrote with a photo of the moment.
U.S. teammates Biles and Chiles had taken silver and bronze, respectively, in the floor exercise and were honoring the gold medal of Andrade, who has overcome adversity that a football player could relate to. She has come back from three ACL tears and collected six Olympic medals, including two gold, in her stellar career.
“I think it’s all about sportsmanship, and we don’t care whether we win or lose,” Biles said Tuesday on “Today.” “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.
“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.”
Biles’ fans weren’t quite as diplomatic in responding to Humphrey.
Three black women who are the best at what they do showing sportsmanship is what you would define as disgusting?
— Luiz Persechini🇧🇷🇨🇦 (@LuizPersechini) August 5, 2024
Yeah, because giving someone their flowers who has come back from THREE ACL tears to continue to be a top gymnast is disgusting.
— Danny Bennett (@RealDannyB) August 5, 2024
Dude, Andrade returned from THREE ACL tears.
Not that good sportsmanship needs an excuse, but that’s incredible.
She deserves all the praise in the world.— Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) August 5, 2024
Get to a final and win something. Then you can talk
— Danilo Lacalle (@danlacalle) August 5, 2024
Many more reactions followed in the same vein, prompting Humphrey to concede, “I’m lowkey getting cooked right now.”
