**Simone Biles: Champion on the Mat, Facing Discrimination Off It** 

Simone Biles, renowned as the world’s top female gymnast, faces both admiration and criticism, particularly due to her race. Alongside others like Sha’Carri Richardson, she symbolizes black individuals who encounter unequal treatment in the Olympics.

The Olympics, showcasing extraordinary athletic feats, have marred headlines recently for discriminatory practices, especially targeting black female athletes. From Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension over cannabis use to bans on swim caps for natural black hair, these incidents highlight systemic racism and misogyny in sports.

For instance, Namibian runners Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi were barred from the women’s 400-meter race due to their natural testosterone levels, invoking the controversial Caster Semenya rule. Such rules force athletes like Semenya to undergo invasive tests or take medication to adjust their testosterone levels, directly impacting their ability to compete.

Despite these challenges, black female athletes are raising their voices, challenging discriminatory norms in sports. In a podcast, Ria Tabacco Mar of ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project discusses these hurdles, emphasizing how rules and biases disproportionately affect black women in sports, hindering their careers and reinforcing racial stereotypes.

Simone Biles, amidst her stellar career with 25 world championship medals and seven Olympic medals, withdrew from Tokyo 2020 citing mental health issues like the ‘twisties,’ highlighting the intense pressure she faces. Her decision sparked global conversations on athlete well-being and mental health in professional sports, influencing other athletes like Naomi Osaka to prioritize mental health over competition.

Despite their achievements, black female athletes continue to confront systemic barriers in sports, demanding systemic change and equal treatment within the Olympics and beyond.