5 Awards Simone Biles Deserved But Never Got — Recognition Snub or Unfair Oversight?

Simone Biles has 7 Olympic medals, 25 World Championship medals, and a vault literally named after her. On paper, she has it all. But in reality? The awards world hasn’t always kept pace with her greatness. From sports ceremonies to cultural honors, there are moments when the GOAT should’ve been crowned — but wasn’t. And those snubs raise questions: was it sexism? Bias? Or was Simone simply too dominant for her own good?

1. Sportswoman of the Year (Every Single Year)

How do you redefine gymnastics, inspire millions, and still not collect “Sportswoman of the Year” annually? Simone has won it a few times, sure. But some years, the honor went elsewhere, sparking debate: how do you overlook someone who made the impossible routine? If LeBron dominates basketball, he’s celebrated endlessly. But when Simone dominates gymnastics, the narrative flips to, “She’s too good, it’s boring.”

2. Best Olympic Moment

Remember 2021? When Simone shocked the world by stepping back for her mental health, then returned for beam and still won bronze? That moment transcended sport — it was a cultural reset. Yet, many awards circled the “traditional” gold medalists instead. Irony alert: the bravest moment of her career wasn’t gilded, it was ghosted.

3. The ESPY for Best Athlete

She’s been nominated, yes. But think about it: Simone Biles invented new moves the judges themselves struggled to score. And yet, male athletes in mainstream sports often walked away with the biggest ESPY trophies. Which begs the uncomfortable question: does gymnastics — even when revolutionized by Simone — get taken seriously by the awards circuit?

4. Cultural Icon Recognition

Simone isn’t just an athlete. She’s graced the Met Gala, fronted fashion campaigns, and become a household name. Yet in “cultural icon” categories — think Time 100 top slots, People’s most influential covers — she sometimes plays second fiddle to celebrities with far less global impact. Was it bias against women in sports? Or just the media’s obsession with Hollywood and pop stars?

5. Lifetime Achievement… Already

Yes, she’s still competing. But let’s be real: Simone Biles could retire tomorrow, and her legacy would still dwarf 99% of sports history. So why hasn’t she already been handed a “Lifetime Achievement” award? Maybe the committees are waiting. Or maybe they’re just afraid of what happens when a woman redefines what “peak” looks like before the age of 30.

The Verdict

Simone Biles’ award snubs reveal something bigger than gymnastics. They expose the uncomfortable truth about recognition in sports and culture: sometimes being the best isn’t enough. Sometimes you’re too good, too disruptive, too different to fit into traditional categories.

So, was it sexism? Was it bias? Or was Simone’s dominance so overwhelming that awards simply didn’t know how to honor it? Whatever the case, one thing is clear: Simone doesn’t need another trophy to prove she’s the GOAT. But the awards world still owes her a few apologies.