The Simone Biles Effect: How One Woman Made Gymnastics Cool Again

For decades, gymnastics was treated like a niche Olympic spectacle — a sport that only captured headlines once every four years before slipping back into the shadows. It was elegant, disciplined, and brutally difficult, but not exactly “cool.” That was, until Simone Biles.

Call it the Biles Effect: suddenly, gymnastics is no longer just a sport; it’s a cultural moment, a talking point in living rooms, podcasts, TikToks, and even political debates. Simone didn’t just flip in the air — she flipped the narrative of what gymnastics is.

When she landed the Yurchenko double pike, she wasn’t just scoring points. She was branding herself as untouchable, the GOAT. Her leotards with rhinestoned goats weren’t subtle — they were statements. Think about it: when was the last time a gymnast, not a pop star, had fans making custom merch, meme edits, and Twitter wars?

But here’s the controversy: has gymnastics become a one-woman industry? Ask around, and you’ll hear whispers. Sponsors line up not for “the sport” but for her. Ratings spike not because the event itself is irresistible, but because people want to see if Simone will redefine gravity again. Critics argue that the Olympic stage has become “The Simone Show,” where the other athletes exist more like background characters in her narrative.

And then there’s the fandom. Her stans operate like K-pop armies — trending hashtags, dragging critics, and turning every move into viral content. Love her or hate her, you can’t ignore her. Even political pundits like Charlie Kirk found themselves forced to comment on her existence. That’s not normal for an athlete. That’s celebrity territory.

So, the big question: is gymnastics right now less about the sport and more about the myth of Simone? If she walked away tomorrow, would gymnastics collapse back into obscurity, like a deflated balloon after a party? Or has she permanently reshaped the game, making flips and routines part of mainstream culture?

In short: Simone Biles didn’t just win medals. She made gymnastics cool again — but maybe, just maybe, too much about her.