JD Vance: Simone Biles shouldn’t be praised for 'weakest moment' after she quit 2021 Olympics

30 July 2024

In the wake of Team USA's gymnastics team winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a 2021 clip has resurfaced of eventual Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) criticizing praise of legendary gymnast Simone Biles.

Democratic-aligned research group American Bridge posted the clip of Vance, who made the comments on a July 28, 2021 Fox News panel moderated by host Harris Faulkner. The panel was assembled shortly after Biles announced that she would not be joining her teammates in the all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

Faulkner began the interview by asking Vance if he thought Biles "let down the country." Vance responded that while he understood that Biles was "under an incredible amount of pressure" as the leader of Team USA's gymnastics squad, he seemingly suggested that the legendary gymnast's withdrawal from the 2021 Olympics was a harmful byproduct of the mainstreaming of therapy.

"What I find so weird about this, and it reflects more on the media than it does on Simone Biles, is that we've tried to turn a very tragic moment — Simone Biles quitting the Olympic team – into this act of heroism." he said. "And I think it reflects poorly on our sort of therapeutic society that we try to praise people not for moments of strength, not for moments of heroism, but for their weakest moments."

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed Biles' withdrawal from the 2021 all-around gymnastics competition, the statement included praise of Biles for her "courage" in deciding to prioritize her mental health over Olympic gold.

"After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health," the IOC's governing body stated at the time. "Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals."

"We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many," the governing body added.

In the clip, Vance went on to acknowledge that while he understands "being an athlete at that level is incredibly tough," he nonetheless disagreed with the media's praise of Biles for her decision to put her mental health first.

"Look, being an athlete is tough. Being an athlete at that level is incredibly tough," Vance said. "A normal response would be, 'it's such a shame that she's going through this, it's shame that she quit.' But instead, what our press has done, I think, has turned this into this weird therapeutic moment: 'Let's praise her for doing this.' And I think that's really where the problem herein lies."

Watch the clip of Vance's remarks below, or by clicking this link. And if you or anyone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 hotline is available on a 24/7 basis.

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