Does The Atlantic Understand Sports?

No: Simone Biles’ critics in the sports world don’t understand today’s athletes. Sports critics don’t “understand” anyone: They judge athletic performances.

Rio de Janeiro — Simone Biles, ginasta dos Estados Unidos, durante final em que levou medalha de ouro na disputa por equipes feminina nos Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016. 9 August 2016. (Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil)

For those following the Olympics- though admittedly, there aren’t many- the shocking sudden withdrawal of superstar gymnast Simone Biles from competition this week threw cold water on an already tepid games.

Plagued by COVID-19, all-around low interest, controversial politicking, a lack of fans in attendance, and a number of other issues, the loss of such an exiting performer as Biles hit fans hard.

Biles, who cited mental health concerns among other issues for the decision, has mostly enjoyed an outpouring of support since, and isn’t likely to sit long on the sidelines in any case. There were of course some- in the sports world and fans of the Olympics- who have been critical of Biles, and her controversial decision to leave the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to its fate, sans its most dynamic member.

Support of Biles is good; but criticism of her is ok, too. She is a professional athlete, after all, the best of the best; subjecting herself to critiques of her performances, and lack thereof, is part of the job.

As others have pointed out, demanding Biles be shielded from criticism is backwards; the soft bigotry of low…