Crisis: Marlon Humphrey expresses deep regret over calling Simone Biles’ gesture ‘disgusting’

The incident occurred after Biles and Chiles congratulated Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade on her gold medal in the women’s floor routine. Both American gymnasts bowed to Andrade, acknowledging her remarkable journey back from multiple serious injuries. Andrade, who had suffered three torn ACL injuries over four years, made a triumphant return to claim gold in the vault event at the Tokyo Olympics and continued to excel in the current competition, posing a strong challenge to Biles in the All-Around category.

In an interview on the show, Biles emphasized the importance of sportsmanship in gymnastics. “I think it’s all about sportsmanship, and we don’t care whether we win or lose. We’re always going to keep a good face and support our competitors because they’ve worked just as hard as we have for that moment,” she stated. Biles further explained their gesture towards Andrade, saying, “So you have to give them their flowers. And that’s exactly what me and Jordan were doing, and we were so happy for her. She deserved it. She had the best floor routine of the day and in the Olympics. So it’s like, yeah, she deserved it.”
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Humphrey faced immediate criticism for his comments. Reflecting on the backlash, he tweeted, “I’m lowkey getting cooked right now. I think I’m getting cussed out in Brazilian on Instagram lol.”

While Humphrey’s perspective on bowing to a competitor who has just defeated you is understandable, it is ultimately not his place to judge the actions of athletes in a different sport. Both Biles and Andrade are icons in gymnastics, and the American gymnasts’ gesture was a mark of respect for Andrade’s incredible resilience and performance. Biles and Chiles, having earned their medals and the right to celebrate their competitors as they see fit, demonstrated true sportsmanship.

As the sports world continues to respond to Humphrey’s remarks, the incident highlights the broader conversation about respect and support among athletes, regardless of the outcomes of their competitions.