GOP Candidate Mark Robinson Attacked US Gymnast Simone Biles for 2021 Mental Health Break
In August of 2021, North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson attacked United States Olympic gymnast Simone Biles during a speech for withdrawing from competition for her own mental health after experiencing "twisties," a psychological disorientation impacting how an athletes perceives themselves physically in the air. At the time, Biles said she "literally can not tell up from down" and withdrew because her "safety was at risk as well as a team medal."
During a speech to the Alexander Country Republican Party, Robinson launched an attack on Biles while also implying his comments may not make him look good publicly:
"Whenever I think about being wore out and being tired, you know, somebody get this on their phone and it will probably end on Facebook, but I ain't no little, weak gymnast that quits when the going gets tough."
Mark Robinson compared himself to Olympic gymnast Simone Biles
Rumble
At the time of Biles' withdraw from competition, some MAGA Republican types launched awful attacks on Biles. Robinson was right there with them. At this point the GOP audience laughed and cheered. Robinson continued, implying Biles was an insufficient person who wasn't putting the nation first:
"My generation is cut from a different cloth, that I don't quit when the going gets tough. Been plenty of times when I've been in the car tired, dog tired. Well, turn around and go back home. You see, I'm not doing this for myself. I'm not like somebody out there flipping around on TV on some monkey bars out there trying to get a gold medal for myself. I'm doing this for a bigger cause. I'm doing this for this state. I'm doing it for this nation. I'm doing it for my grandchildren and their children and they can have the kind of life that I have, a life of freedom."
Simone Biles with an all-around gold medal at the 2016 Olympics
Agência Brasil Fotografias / Wikimedia Commons
The audience continued to cheer after Robinson again elevated himself by putting down Biles. Robinson's attack implied Biles was selfish, and his line about "monkey bars" is also meant to diminish the gymnast's athleticism.
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Freedom to gymnast Simon Biles, Thursday, July 7, 2022, in the East Room of the White House
Adam Schultz / Wikimedia Commons
Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and is the most decorated American gymnast in history. President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Freedom to Biles at the White House in 2022. Biles has since returned to competition earning an 8th U.S. Gymnastics title in 2023.
Simone Biles and the U.S. Olympic team at the 2018 World Championships
Abelardo Mendes Jr / Wikimedia Commons
Robinson attacked Biles as a "weak, little gymnast that quits when the going gets tough." As it turns out, the opposite is true. At the 2018 World Championships, Biles went to the hospital with stomach pains and found out she had a kidney stone, which are very painful. Biles checked herself out of the hospital, still competed, and led her team to a gold medal.
Robinson attacked kneeling athletes and Simone Biles
This wasn't Robinson's only time to attack Biles. In a Facebook post from 2021, Robinson attacked kneeling athletes protesting police violence and Simone Biles for withdrawing for mental health concerns. Robinson attempted to link their behaviors as being a result of the "philosophy" behind participation trophies, another right wing vector of attack.
Robinson fails to understand how elite athletes must be to even make it to the NFL or the Olympics. Biles herself is arguably one of the top athletes of all time.
Robinson endorsed by Trump and is now the Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate. He wants to run a state, yet mocked popular athlete Simone Biles for having a mental health episode. Only a weak, insecure person looking to score points with his MAGA base would lower himself to such an awful position.
