Basketball star Kevin Durant has opened up about the depth of inspiration he sees in Olympic Gymnast, Simone Biles.
He said watching Simone win her sixth gold medal on August 1, 2024, had been one of the most exciting moments of his experience at the Paris Olympics.
In an interview with sports outlet The Athletic, he said he had “never been to a gymnastics event up close like that,” though he had “watched [gymnastics] on TV” before.
He noted it was a “different” experience watching the event in Paris, and that seeing Simone and other teammates put so much time into their craft was “just amazing.”
Beyond watching Biles dominate in Paris, the Phoenix Suns player said he was inspired by the 27-year-old athlete for the way she handled criticism.
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“When people see so much potential in you at an early age, you’re going to get [criticized] like that, and she’s been through it at the highest of the highest levels,” Durant stated.
“For her to continue to come out and showcase their brilliance every day, and also let people know that they sound crazy talking against her? To be able to do both is inspiring,” he added.
Durant, who himself, has been criticized in many instances on social media, said Biles has inspired him to keep the same energy online.
Simone Biles is America’s most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time and rarely shies away from speaking up for herself and her teammates.
In Paris this year, she spoke out against her “haters,” defending her husband wearing her gold medal, and several other unrefined comments by some individuals.
