Time Gets Backlash After Naming Simone Biles ‘Athlete of the Year’
The old adage was that “winners never quit and quitters never win.” But in 2021, quitters can be named Athlete of the Year. Time magazine announced Thursday that it was bestowing that honor on American gymnast Simone…
The old adage was that “winners never quit and quitters never win.”
But in 2021, quitters can be named Athlete of the Year.
Time magazine announced Thursday that it was bestowing that honor on American gymnast Simone Biles.
Biles startled the world by dropping out of a team event at the Olympic Games this summer, saying she was not sufficiently mentally focused on what she was doing and could have injured herself had she competed in her condition.
Time explained that those old-fashioned views about athletes achieving excellence in their Sports had nothing to do with its decision.
“An athlete’s clout is increasingly measured in much more than wins and losses. If 2020 showcased the power of athletes as activists after the murder of George Floyd, this year demonstrated how athletes are uniquely positioned to propel Mental health to the forefront of a broader cultural conversation,” Alice Park and Sean Gregory wrote.
“Not only did I get to use my voice, but it was validated as well,” Biles told the magazine.