*Here’s something that never happens to white athletes … being penalized for being too good at the game.
Meanwhile, Black excellence is being curbed in the world of gymnastics, as the International Gymnastics Federation has threatened to make an example of out the reigning world and Olympic champion, Simone Biles, because she’s outshining mediocre, white gymnasts.
Via USA Today:
In an effort to deter other gymnasts from trying skills they are not physically capable of doing, the International Gymnastics Federation watered down the value of a new element Biles plans to do at the world championships.
Biles is doing two new skills at worlds: a triple-twisting, double somersault on floor exercise and a double-twisting, double somersault dismount off balance beam.
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Simone Biles Breaks Silence on Brother’s Triple-Murder Arrest: ‘My Heart Aches’
The publication also breaks down the scoring:
Every element in gymnastics is assigned a letter, which corresponds to a numerical value. An “A” skill is worth a tenth of a point, and every letter in the alphabet that follows is an additional tenth. So a “D” skill is four-tenths of a point while the rare “J” skill is worth a full point.
Biles’ triple-double was valued as a J skill, while the double-double was only deemed to be an H. Some gymnasts are trying to pad their scores by chucking skills they have no business doing, and we need to protect them from themselves.
“Am I in a league of my own? Yes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t credit me for what I’m doing,” Biles told NBC after learning of the decision this week by the women’s technical committee.
Simone Biles’ double-double dismount is now known as the “Biles”
Only 22 years old and already has FOUR total moves named after her ?
(via @NBCOlympics) pic.twitter.com/JVPP3DmDcm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 7, 2019
The women’s technical committee (WTC) released a statement Friday explaining its reasoning:
“In assigning values to the new elements, the WTC takes into consideration many different aspects; the risk, the safety of the gymnasts and the technical direction of the discipline,” it said. “There is added risk in landing of double saltos for beam dismounts (with/without twists), including a potential landing on the neck.
“Reinforcing, there are many examples … where decisions have been made to protect the gymnasts and preserve the direction of the discipline.”
Twitter user @IamTobiOredein summed it up best by noting: “If Simone Biles was white- this would never happen. White medocricy is actually a disease and its victims are black women time and time again.”
Do you agree?
Simone Biles makin’ more gymnastics history as she debuts the triple double at World Championships. Will be named the Biles II #stuttgart2019pic.twitter.com/K2HGIVpB0o
— FloGymnastics (@FloGymnastics) October 5, 2019
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