In this paper, I will explore the intersections of religion, gender, and race through the subject of Simone Biles. Holding the record for most combined medals in competitive, artistic gymnastics, Biles is widely considered the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) in her sport. For all her success, Biles attributes her accomplishments to a higher power. In an interview, Biles has stated of her gymnastic prowess, “I don’t understand how I do it… It [is] a God-given talent” (The Cut, 2021). I will argue that Biles’ Catholicism plays a major role in how she both prepares as an elite athlete for competition and holistically balances her mental and physical health.
The primary aim of this paper is to highlight Biles’ Catholicism and the ways it both emphasizes and challenges mainstream opinions of Catholic religious practice. Biles became Catholic by way of her adoptive mother, Nellie. Biles’ prayers to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, and her carrying a rosary during competitions act as significant professions of Catholic faith. But Biles also illustrates nuance between faith and politics. In the summer of 2021, Biles publicly stated in an Instagram post that she was pro-choice. By examining Biles’ public statements about Catholicism and politics, I believe we can elucidate the complexities of lived religion and better understand how practice Catholics adapt their faith to different contexts.
The secondary aim of this paper is to integrate the aspects of race and gender on how they interact with Biles’ identity as a Catholic. As a Black Catholic, Biles is a “minority within a minority.” For this reason, Biles represents a highly public example of a significantly underrepresented group of religious Americans. As a highly decorated African American athlete, Biles similarly had to defend herself against unique criticism that her other accomplished white peers do not endure. When she volunteered to sit during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns, Biles faced a torrent of online abuse that she otherwise would not have faced if she were not an African American woman. Biles’ experiences as a cisgendered woman are likewise magnified as she helped her fellow U.S. gymnast teammates ousted convicted sexual abuser Larry Nasser. Stating that she felt “called by God” to publicly come forward to shed light on Nasser’s systemic abuse, Biles’ faith played a role in her intersecting identities to stand up against abuse and combat stereotypes of young Black women.
As the most decorated gymnast in history, Simone Biles inspired millions through awe-striking acrobatic feats on the grandest competitive stages. Among the sources of Biles’ motivation to compete and strive for excellence is her Catholic faith. In this paper, I will examine Biles’ public statements about her Catholic upbringing, its connections to her record-breaking talent, and the challenges she endures as a world-class African American gymnast.