Simone Biles, at the age of 24, has made history by becoming the youngest ever recipient of the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Her unrivaled career has firmly established her as one of the greatest gymnasts to grace the sport.
This accolade comes at the end of a year that saw Biles revolutionize the conversation surrounding mental health in sports. She made headlines by courageously withdrawing from five finals during the Olympics, only to make a triumphant comeback and secure a bronze medal on the balance beam.
In addition to her on-field success, Biles provided impactful testimony during an inquiry into the sexual abuse suffered by her and her fellow gymnasts at the hands of Larry Nassar.
Having recently hinted at retirement after amassing an impressive collection of 32 medals at the Olympics and World Championships (including an astounding 23 gold medals), Biles expressed her gratitude upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award: “The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award is a truly humbling honor. When I look at the names of those who have been honored before me, it’s almost surreal. This year didn’t go as planned, as I had to step back from competition to focus on recovering from an invisible injury. Making the decision to speak out about mental health struggles was the toughest choice I’ve ever made, but I did it to show that there’s no shame in these battles. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my teammates, friends, and family for their unwavering support. I will continue to fight for what I believe in and strive to create a safer environment for young athletes to thrive. Once again, thank you for this incredible honor and what it signifies.”
Barbara Slater, the director of BBC Sport and a former Olympic gymnast, commended Biles’ dedication to gymnastics and how she elevated the sport to new heights: “Simone’s unwavering passion and dedication to gymnastics have captivated audiences worldwide. Her remarkable performances on the grandest stages have solidified her position as one of the sport’s greatest icons. The fact that four gymnastics skills bear her name demonstrates her immense influence. It is a true honor to present Simone with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The announcement of the award precedes the highly anticipated Spoty ceremony, where Emma Raducanu is the frontrunner for the main prize. If victorious, Raducanu would become the first teenager to win the award since Michael Owen in 1998 and the first woman since Zara Phillips in 2006, further cementing her status as Britain’s new tennis sensation.
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