Gymnastics Community Upset With Simone Biles as They Express Bittersweet Feelings Over Life Achievement

As a toddler, Simone Biles was particularly jealous of a street cat. Sitting in one corner of the dining room in her childhood home of Columbus, Ohio, she’d often watch her biological mother, Shanon, wander in. Immediately, Simone and her siblings Adria, Ashley and Tevin’s face would light up, only for the happiness to be snatched away soon after. “Growing up, me and my siblings were so focused on food because we didn’t have a lot of food,” the gymnast would later describe in 2021. “I remember there was this cat around the house and I would be so hungry. They would feed this cat and I would be like, ‘Where the heck is my food?’”

“And so I think that’s [why] I don’t like cats … because this freaking street cat, she always fed it. But she never fed us,” the gymnast would further recount. The neighbors soon noticed. Social workers stepped in. And within a year, Shanon, who struggled with addiction issues, was deemed unfit to care for her young children. Placed in foster care, the young quartet would “[cling] to each other” praying not to be separated. Every night, the three-year-old Simone would run to her brother’s bedroom because she feared “he was going to disappear” the next morning.

Three years later, their prayers would be answered. Simone and Adria would be adopted by Shanon’s biological parents Ron and Nellie Biles, while the two other siblings would go to Ron Biles’ sister’s home. And that would be the exact moment, the strings of fate would retract and extend in a different direction altogether—one that would take a hungry kid from Ohio and place her on the world stage amid unsurmountable fame and importance years later. The latest instance of that came on May 12. But, unfortunately, this time a day that was meant for celebration, became a heartbreaking reminder from fans about meritocracy and worth.

The incident unfolded when the seven-time Olympic gold medalist, survivor, advocate, and trailblazer, shared an innocent post celebrating her latest achievement: Earning an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Washington University. Taking to Instagram, the 28-year-old proudly wrote, “it’s Dr. Biles to you 🫶🏾 but in all seriousness ,thank you @washu for allowing me to do the commencement speech! Congrats to all the Graduates 🎓Truly inspiring! Good luck with all your future endeavors!!” In the post, she was also seen donning a green robe that perfectly went with the occasion. 

Notably, the gymnast also have an inspiring commencement speech where she told graduates, “The world doesn’t need you to be perfect. It needs you to be bold. It needs you to care. It needs you to keep going even when things don’t go as planned. Go out there and write your own story. Only one that you can tell.” But even in moments of celebration, the internet rarely offers silence. Soon, her comment section filled — some with love, others with lectures. A few users took issue with her self-referencing as “Dr,” pointing out that honorary degrees are symbolic and don’t entitle someone to use the title professionally.

It was the kind of moment that highlights the complexities of public life. While Simone has always aimed to be the best version of herself, not for titles or applause, but for purpose, the world around her has remained ready to weigh in. A few times, this process has not gone smoothly. Evidence? 

As Biles’ stardom grew, so did the scrutiny. The same social media that once shared her victory clips began to turn into a space of judgment and cruelty. Commenters picked apart her looks, her body, her expressions, even questioning her worth, as if medals weren’t proof enough. And when her personal life made headlines, the floodgates opened wider. In March, the toll peeked through her polished exterior. Simone posted a raw, jarring message on her Instagram story: “hope y’all are having a better day than me.. these are the texts I receive from random a** numbers.. btw y’all are f***** weird for this.”  The message was laced with frustration and exhaustion. A reminder that behind the medals and magazine covers is a woman trying to live, love, and breathe in peace. And yet, something shifted this time.

A similar wave of nasty comments followed her honorary doctorate post. Fortunately, her comment section didn’t just host critics. It held defenders. Gymnastics fans, longtime supporters, and ordinary people spoke up, too.

Simone Biles is not left unbacked!

In the comment box of Simone Biles’ post, several Instagram handles of Washington University came forward, chiming in to stand by their honoree. They highlighted that honorary doctorates are given in recognition of immense impact, not academic achievement, but societal contribution. One user wrote, “Reading is fundamental. She did not actually graduate. She was the guest speaker and they normally do an honorary doctorate for certain guest speakers. It takes years to become an actual PhD graduate or an equivalent. I finished my doctorate PhD in a few months and it is a lot of hard academic scholarly work. My daughter has been a gymnast for 5 years and we love Simone but this was definitely just a joke as she said in her post.”

However, there were also others like:

• “As someone who has a doctorate that I studied and paid for, took years off my life, I will never understand honorary degrees.”
  
• “I love you, but how would you feel if the Olympics awarded honorary gold medals? It would be demeaning to you because you worked hard and earned your medals. Those of us who have earned doctorates feel the same way about our degrees. They are earned, not handed out.”
• “Just because it’s honorary doesn’t make you a doctor… this is giving Katy perry vibes.”
• “I so DISLIKE honorary degrees. As long as I’ve been working on mine & money spent over the years and for someone who is “famous” an/or “celebrity” status come along and speak at a graduation and is NOW DR…..?!! It’s sooooo disrespectful. People should stop accepting it out of respect for others who put in the work & money into it. My journey/testament is, I started when my youngest of two was 5 and now she is 19; husband deployed five times between 2002-2009; all while living in TX raising two little ones and family in GA/NC; working, staying up late nights studying/writing; taking two breaks and coming back, PCS’ing to Korea, Vicenza (however, still determined); but to walk on a stage & speak…..I’m so tired of this “honorary” status”
• “Congrats on your honorary degree. You’re not actually a doctor.”
• “This is so misleading, she’s not actually a “DR” read and do your research. She was just a speaker 😒 SO many people spend yrs and yrs and money gaining this title and becoming excellent doctors ! 🥼 it’s a shame she posted this .”
• “Please do not assign yourself a title that the rest of us worked years to earn. I don’t call myself an Olympic gymnast, you are not Dr. Biles. 😒”

To them, the title “Dr.” was sacred — a symbol of years of rigorous study, sleepless nights, and academic sacrifice. The idea that someone could use the title without setting foot in a graduate seminar struck a nerve. Still, not all saw it as a slight.

One proud attendee of the ceremony commented with joy: “I’m graduating with my doctorate the same year Simone got her honorary doctorate and that’s fu***** cool.” There was no bitterness, only celebration — two very different journeys, one unforgettable intersection. Yet another fan tried to offer perspective with a pointed analogy: “I love you, but how would you feel if the Olympics awarded honorary gold medals? It would be demeaning to you because you worked hard and earned your medals. Those of us who have earned doctorates feel the same way about our degrees. They are earned, not handed out.”

The comparison was meant to sting. But it also unintentionally underscored why Simone’s honorary degree mattered. She’s already earned her medals through grit, sacrifice, and world-class excellence.

And one fan was quick to respond with that very reminder: “Honorary means you did something significant within your community. She’s so deserving!!” In the end, as the debate simmered, one voice stood out like a warm embrace from the past: “WUSTL ‘87 and I’m so happy to see this!! Congratulations!” Sometimes pride transcends protocol. Whether you’ve written a dissertation or landed a triple-twisting double back on a world stage, some contributions can’t be measured by a classroom or a credit hour. And Simone Biles? She’s been schooling the world for years — in excellence, in courage, and in grace.