Simone Biles will always stand up for Team USA. The 27-year-old gymnast discussed how she has her teammates’ backs during a new interview after closing out her third Olympic Games.
“It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices,” she told PEOPLE in an interview published earlier this week. “And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is OK.”
As the “team lead” and the eldest player on the team, Simone pointed out that it “just felt like it was right in that moment to stand up for them, because they’re so young and they haven’t fully stood in their power yet.”
Although she didn’t specify what exactly she defended her teammates — Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera — against, Simone’s comment was made the same day that MyKayla Skinner publicly asked her to “stop” her fans from harassing the former Olympian.
“I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this,” MyKayla, 27, said in an Instagram video earlier this week. “Please ask your followers to stop. … Watching people cheer on the bullying is disgusting.”
