“From ‘National Shame’ to National Inspiration: Simone Biles Breaks Her Silence on Charlie Kirk’s Cruel Words — and America Is Listening”
A Moment the World Will Never Forget
Few people will forget the summer of 2021. The Tokyo Olympics, already postponed by a year because of the global pandemic, was supposed to be a triumphant return for the world’s greatest athletes. For Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, it was expected to be the crowning jewel of a legendary career.
Instead, it became something else entirely.
Midway through the Games, Biles stunned the world by withdrawing from competition, citing mental health challenges and the dangerous disorientation gymnasts call “the twisties.” Her decision sparked an international conversation about the pressure elite athletes face and the often-hidden toll of mental health struggles in sports.
But not everyone offered compassion.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk went on air and blasted Biles in words that quickly went viral: “Simone Biles just showed the rest of the nation that we are not ready. She is a selfish, childish national embarrassment. What a joke. She is a national shame.”
The words were cruel. They were amplified. And for Biles, they cut deeper than the world ever knew.
The Weight of Words
At the time, Simone Biles responded cautiously. She spoke about her need for rest, about protecting her mental and physical well-being. Her words inspired millions, particularly young athletes who felt unseen in their own struggles. She was celebrated by many as a pioneer who put health before medals.
But behind the public statements, the sting of Kirk’s condemnation lingered. His voice wasn’t just another critic; it became a symbol of the relentless pressure to perform at all costs — and the punishment that awaited those who dared to put their humanity first.
Now, years later, after Kirk’s unexpected death, Biles has spoken candidly about how those words haunted her, how they deepened her struggles, and how she ultimately turned pain into power.
Breaking the Silence
In a recent interview, Biles reflected on that moment with unflinching honesty.
“I carried those words with me for a long time,” she admitted. “When you’re already in the middle of something so heavy, and then you hear someone call you a national shame — it’s not just criticism. It feels like a wound. I felt smaller than ever.”
She went on: “I wanted to speak back then, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength. So I stayed quiet. But inside, it hurt more than people will ever know.”
Her confession has left millions of fans moved. On social media, phrases like “Simone’s strength” and “We stand with Simone” have trended for days. Her decision to finally speak, not in anger but in vulnerability, has struck a chord at a time when America is rethinking how it treats its heroes — and how it judges them when they stumble.
Charlie Kirk’s Outburst in Context
Charlie Kirk, who built his career as a firebrand conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, thrived on provocation. To his supporters, he was fearless, unafraid to say what others wouldn’t. To his critics, he was reckless, often prioritizing outrage over empathy.
His comments about Biles fit a pattern: attacking cultural figures who, in his view, symbolized weakness or decline. But this time, the target was a 24-year-old woman battling both physical and mental challenges on the biggest stage in the world.
The backlash to Kirk’s remarks was swift. Even some conservatives condemned the tone. But by then, the damage had been done. The clip was everywhere, replayed endlessly, etched into the collective memory of that Olympic summer.
And for Biles, it was a moment she couldn’t escape.
The Invisible Toll
Mental health experts say the effect of such public shaming can be devastating.
“Words like ‘national shame’ don’t just criticize performance,” explained Dr. Karen Mitchell, a sports psychologist. “They attack identity. For someone already struggling, that can worsen anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.”
Biles confirmed as much in her reflection. “I started questioning myself — not just as an athlete, but as a person. I thought, maybe I really am what he says I am. Maybe I let everyone down.”
The irony is that Biles’ withdrawal wasn’t a failure; it was an act of self-preservation. By stepping back, she avoided serious injury and lived to compete another day. In doing so, she modeled resilience for millions. But Kirk’s words, she revealed, made that act of courage feel, in the moment, like a defeat.
The Turning Point
What changed?
Time. Healing. And the realization that silence wasn’t strength.
In the years since Tokyo, Biles has continued to dominate gymnastics, returning to competition with the same brilliance that once earned her the title “the GOAT.” She’s also become an outspoken advocate for mental health, using her platform to push for greater resources for athletes at every level.
But she admits that part of her motivation came from Kirk’s attack.
“I decided that if they were going to call me a national shame, then I was going to show them what a national inspiration looks like,” she said.
And she has.
A Nation Responds
The response to Biles’ recent revelations has been overwhelmingly supportive.
On X (formerly Twitter), one fan wrote: “Charlie Kirk’s words tried to break her. Instead, they built her into the strongest version of herself.”
Another posted: “If standing up for your health is shameful, then maybe shame is the bravest thing of all.”
Major outlets have covered her comments extensively, framing them as part of a larger cultural reckoning with how America treats its athletes, especially women and people of color.
Her story, once about withdrawal, is now about transformation.
The Legacy of 2021
Looking back, the Tokyo Olympics of 2021 will be remembered for more than medals. It will be remembered as the moment when the world’s greatest gymnast redefined what greatness looks like.
Yes, Simone Biles faltered. But in faltering, she exposed the crushing weight of expectation and forced a conversation that was long overdue.
Charlie Kirk’s attack was cruel. But in a strange way, it became the backdrop against which Biles’ resilience shines brightest. Without the wound, there may not have been the same fire. Without the insult, perhaps the same inspiration would not have emerged.
Forgiveness, or Something Else?
When asked whether she forgives Charlie Kirk, Biles paused.
“I don’t know if forgiveness is the right word,” she said. “What I know is that I don’t carry his words anymore. I carried them long enough. Now, I carry something else — strength, clarity, hope. That’s enough.”
It was a striking answer — not absolution, not revenge, but release.
The Larger Conversation
Biles’ story speaks to a broader cultural shift.
For generations, athletes were expected to be machines: flawless, unfeeling, always performing. To admit weakness was to admit defeat. The “suck it up” mentality dominated locker rooms and boardrooms alike.
But figures like Biles, Naomi Osaka in tennis, and Michael Phelps in swimming have cracked that façade. They’ve shown that vulnerability is not the opposite of strength but a dimension of it.
And in doing so, they’ve redefined not just sports but what it means to be human in public.
Conclusion: From Shame to Strength
“Few people will forget 2021, when Simone Biles was called a national shame,” the story began. But fewer still will forget what happened after.
Because Simone Biles has proven that shame is not destiny. That cruelty can be met with courage. That silence can eventually give way to a voice stronger than the insults that once silenced it.
Charlie Kirk’s words may have deepened her wounds, but they also deepened her resolve. And today, as she stands not just as the greatest gymnast of all time but as one of America’s most powerful voices on mental health, the contrast is clear.
He tried to define her. She redefined herself.
And millions are grateful she finally spoke.