Another reason to love Olympic gymnast Simone Biles: her perfect response to the many sexist comparisons of women's athletic achievements to men's that are running rampant in Rio Games commentary. "I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps," Biles said, shortly after winning gold in the women's all-around finals Thursday. "I'm the first Simone Biles."
Recently, an NBC commentator remarked the Biles was so good on the uneven bars that "she might even go higher than some of the men." Olympic trap shooter Corey Cogdell was described as "wife of a Bears' lineman" after she won bronze in Rio. When Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu broke the world record in the 400-meter individual medley, announcers were quick to give all the credit to her husband and coach. After 19-year-old Katie Ledecky beat a world record by nearly two seconds, she was referred to as the "female Michael Phelps." And the list goes on.
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