Simone Biles had quite the night at the ESPYs on Wednesday. This was her first trip to the ESPYS since 2017.
The record-breaking Olympic gymnast was nominated for two awards, including Best Athlete in Women’s Sports and Best Championship Performance, for her gold medal win in women’s all-around at the 2024 Olympics.
Biles won both awards.
The 11-time Olympic medalist claimed the night’s first award, best championship performance for her efforts at the Paris Games. She won three golds and a silver while helping the U.S. women’s gymnasts win their first team title since 2016.
During her speech, Simone Biles stated, “That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men.”
Simone Biles is HER ⭐ pic.twitter.com/UlxxGdSryf
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 17, 2025
Biles was the only woman nominated in this category.
The other nominees were basketball player Stephen Curry, MLB player Freddie Freeman, and golfer Rory McIlroy.
How fans Reacted To What Simone Biles Said
“She’s a racist woman hater who supports men competing in women’s sports,” one fan said.
She’s a racist woman hater who supports men competing in women’s sports.
— Mike (@Mike4Liberty) July 17, 2025
“She’s also anti-woman and is a weirdo. She thinks men can be women,” a second person added.
She’s also anti woman and is a weirdo. She thinks men can be women
— Robert Clark III (@ItsTheeBobbyC) July 17, 2025
“Is she a her, zer, or der? I’m pretty sure advocating for men in women’s sports would make it difficult for women. Maybe I just don’t understand logic. 🤔,” a third person wrote about Simone Biles.
Is she a her, zer or der? I’m pretty sure advocating for men in women sports would make it difficult for women. Maybe I just don’t understand logic. 🤔
— Cryptic (@CrypticUSMC) July 17, 2025
“All due respect to her, but when u start ur speech by I’m surprised i won in a category of men.” while she vouched for biological men playing in women’s sports..u do the math bc it ain’t adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing right….,” a fourth person commented.
all due respect to her, but when u start ur speech by “im surprised i won in a category of men.” while she vouched for biological men playing in women’s sports..u do the math bc it ain’t adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing right….
— Tyler 🥀 (@tylerrr_24) July 17, 2025
“Nah. She doesn’t support women and has only excelled because she wasn’t forced by others like her to compete against a dude,” one final person added.
Nah. She doesn’t support women and has only excelled because she wasn’t forced by others like her to compete against a dude.
— Debbie Wright (@lipsis) July 17, 2025
