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Simone Biles defended her hairstyle during the women's gymnastics final in Paris.
The Olympian was recently part of the team that took home the gold medal, making her the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history. Gymnasts who participated in the games have previously competed with elaborate hairstyles of various types of braids that were put into buns or ponytails to keep the hair out of the face.
However, on the team bus, Biles took a photo that she later posted on her Instagram Story, showing her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. Assuming she would receive criticism for the hairstyle, Biles explained that she had done her hair before, but that it was too hot.
“Don’t give me any jokes about my hair,” the text on the screen said as she showed off her hairstyle. “I DONE IT, but the bus has no air conditioning and it’s like 9000 degrees. Oh, and a 45-minute ride.”
She then posted a second image of herself on her story, in which she could be seen holding a fan in front of her face. “I will hold your hand when I say this,” the text on the screen read. “Next time you want to comment on a black girl’s hair, DON’T DO IT.”
This isn't the first time Biles has spoken openly about her hair. In a previous interview with She, Posted on July 17, she told the outlet that it took her time to love her hair as someone who grew up without anyone teaching her how to properly style it.
As for making more specific and complex styles for the Olympics, she thanks social media for helping her.
“We’ve been able to take better care of our hair and take better care of our beauty routines, because it’s self-taught,” she said. “It’s really special that we have access to those platforms.”
“I used to worry about [my hair being considered] “It’s not professional,” the Olympian added. “But I’m not ashamed of it anymore.”
At one point in the interview, she admitted to receiving criticism for her hair, recalling how people had commented under her wedding photos that her hair looked messy. “Most of the backlash we get is from our own community, which is unfortunate,” Biles told She“I don't really care if my edges aren't smooth.”
However, she has since realized that combing her hair is almost a form of therapy for her and it is an act she now enjoys doing.
“I understand and realize that I have to take care of my physical and mental appearance,” she continued, adding, “I’m finally learning to love my hair and the texture I have and the styles I can do.”
Biles' return to the team comes after she had to withdraw from most of the 2020 competitions in Tokyo due to a case of “twisties,” which is a temporary loss of air awareness when performing twisting elements.
“The brain no longer communicates with the body, they change the movement, they lose their place,” explained American coach Landi in the first part of Biles’ recent Netflix documentary, titled Simone Biles: On the rise“Most of the time it’s not related to gymnastics.”
