Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is one of the biggest names in women’s sports. Many consider her the greatest gymnast of all time, and she has the accolades to back up that label.
Interestingly, however, when it comes to being the most influential female athlete today, a major publication puts her behind Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.
Complex recently ranked the “10 Most Influential Female Athletes Right Now,” and Biles landed at No. 3. Although it’s not a bad ranking at all, with the publication heaping praise on the seven-time Olympic gold medalist and calling her “quite possibly the greatest athlete of all time,” her place on the list didn’t sit well with many.
After all, considering what she has done and proven, several fans believe she deserves to be No. 1, or at least in the top two.
Fans took to the comment section of Complex’s Instagram post to air their complaints.
“Do you know how incredibly biased you have to be to put two rookies with no accolades over Olympic gold medalists who have transformed their sport? Complex get real” a commenter wrote.
Another one said, “Listen, not knocking Caitlin’s influence…. but to put her against perhaps the greatest gymnast to ever set foot on the planet and record setting Olympian Simone Biles…. AND another Olympian in Richardson….such a US-centric point of view. Americans constitute such a microscopic percentage of global population. Biles and Richardson are influential on a global-scale…. not just in Indiana.”
“Simone Biles at #3? Be serious. She’s top 2 at least,” a disappointed reader added.
A supporter further stated, “Simone is #1 out US nobody know Caitlin.”
“Biles is more famous she should be #1,” a follower shared.
A sixth social media user noted, “Simone Biles should be higher.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks by Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Sure enough, it’s understandable where fans are coming from. It was just seven months ago that Biles added three more Olympic gold medals to her résumé, so many would have expected her to be higher on such list.
