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Simone Biles: Gymnastic Greatness

Shirley Jones Luke
2 min readAug 5, 2024

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This is Black Girl Magic. This is Black Excellence!

Photo Source: USA Today

Simone Biles is the GOAT. In gymnastics, she has cemented her place as an icon. After Biles ends her competitive days, every gymnast will be compared to her. Every reference in women’s gymnastics will have Biles’ name in the sentence.

There is no other reference. Of course, other US Olympic Gymnastics team members have won medals (Suni Lee), and I applaud their efforts—they are truly deserved. But as a Black woman, I must support my fellow sister, Simone.

Despite the critics attacking her every move and every strand of her hair (smh), Biles has repeatedly risen to the challenge. And even when she fails to medal (dang balance beam!), she doesn’t hang her head. Even the great ones know that every day can’t go their way.

Biles’ performance at the Olympic Games has inspired millions of girls in America, especially Black and Brown girls. They see Biles and realize they can do great things as well. They can become gymnasts, attend competitions, win awards, and become Olympic champions. Biles has done so much for the sport and representation.

And that representation started before Biles with Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglass, and so many others who paved the way for Biles today.

Check out this article from Essence magazine about Black gymnasts:

  • **REPOST**

So congrats to Simone Biles and the rest of the US team. Well done, ladies!

Well done!

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Shirley Jones Luke
Shirley Jones Luke

Written by Shirley Jones Luke

Shirley is a writer. Ms. Luke enjoys books, fashion and travel. She is working on her second poetry manuscript, a collection of essays, and a fiction novel.

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