Biles making the most of her power
BOSTON – It’s impressive to watch Simone Biles use her power.
Not her tumbling skills, though those are even more dazzling than they were in the Rio Olympics. At 21 and with her spot as the greatest of all time secure, Biles recognizes the influence she has within USA Gymnastics and she’s not afraid to use it.
It’s subtle — a comment here, an Instagram post there, a deliberate choice of color for her leotard. But it’s refreshing to watch Biles grow in confidence off the floor.
Take Sunday night. USA Gymnastics’ lack of any acknowledgment of the survivors of Larry Nassar’s horrific abuse during the national championships was yet another example of the organization’s cluelessness. Worse was CEO Kerry Perry’s word salad when asked why USA Gymnastics had nothing planned.
When Biles took the floor for the finals, it wasn’t lost on anyone that her leotard, which she designed herself, was a teal color. That, of course, is the color for sexual abuse awareness, and Biles said after that she was wearing it as a sign of support for her fellow survivors.
Biles has said she is among the hundreds of women abused by Nassar, the longtime physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State. So, too, were Final Five teammates Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Madison Kocian.
“It is for the survivors, and I stand with all of them,” Biles said Sunday night. “And I think it’s kind of special to unite.”
It would be, if USA Gymnastics would get out of its own way and recognize that a public statement of support would demonstrate the sincerity survivors — and everyone else — have been wanting. That’s apparently too much to ask, though, so it was left to Biles to make a statement.
Two years ago, that likely isn’t something Biles would have been comfortable doing. But she’s “older and wiser” now, and the year she took off of gymnastics gave her a perspective elite athletes rarely get — can’t get — when their entire lives are devoted to training.
Biles knows her return is the most positive news USA Gymnastics has had in the last two years, and that gives her leverage. USA Gymnastics didn’t abandon the Karolyi ranch, where some of Nassar’s abuse occurred, until Biles said she didn’t want to return there. She didn’t mince words last week when she was asked if the federation was heading in the right direction, and she refused to give Perry cover after Perry said Sunday that she’s had several “interactions” with Biles and her parents.
“She really hasn’t talked to my family too much,” said Biles, whose flabbergasted facial expression quickly became a meme on the gymternet. “We had an interaction in January, but it was like, ‘Hey … just kind of passing through.’ That was it.”
Again, it’s subtle.