Simone Biles, 28, won two trophies at the ESPYS on Wednesday night, including the women’s best athlete award.
At the Dolby Theatre, the 11-time Olympic gold medalist claimed the night’s first award, Best Championship Performance for her efforts at the Paris Games. She was later named the Best Women’s Athlete.
The new awards makes Biles a seven-time ESPY Award winner. “Thank you — again,” Biles said with a smile after being presented the award.
“The recognition means more than you guys know,” Biles told the audience.
Rigged Rumors
As Atlanta Black Star reports, by winning Best Championship Performance for earning three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Biles defeated three other top-level male athletes.
“That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles said after kissing her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens.
Olympic gold medal-winning basketball player Steph Curry, MLB’s 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, and 2025 Masters Tournament golf champion Rory McIlroy were also nominated in the category alongside Biles.
Some sports fans specifically took issue with Curry, 37, losing Best Championship Performance to his fellow 2024 U.S. Olympian.
“Simone Biles over Steph Curry’s performance. I hate you guys,” expressed one fan. Another stated, “How does Simone Biles get best Champ Performance over Steph hitting five look away threes in the Gold Medal game. F–king rigged.”
“This is why I don’t watch the ESPYs. All credit to Simone Biles, but how can Steph hit 8 threes in an Olympic final and not win the award?” read a more-balanced tweet.