Simone Biles makes gymnastics history, dresses in solidarity with sexual assault survivors
Olympic champion Simone Biles just made gymnastics history wearing a leotard that honors survivors of sexual abuse.
The 21-year-old athlete donned a teal leotard she designed herself on Sunday, winning her fifth title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston, the first woman in 24 years to be awarded the top score in every single event of a national championship.
Why teal? It's the symbolic color for survivors of sexual abuse, one of whom is Biles, who came forward to accuse former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar of sexual assault in January.
"(The color) is for the survivors," Biles said, reported the Associated Press. "I stand with all of them and I think it's kind of special to unite (people)."
More than 150 women, including Biles' Olympic teammate Aly Raisman, spoke in court against Nassar, who was sentenced to 40-to-175 years in prison for seven charges and 40-to-125 years for three additional charges. Biles didn't attend Nassar's sentencing in January, saying she didn't think she was "emotionally ready for that."
Biles reportedly planned the leotard eight months ago, wanting to make a statement in the face of USA Gymnastics, an organisation accused of not taking adequate action against Nassar.
In March, Raisman announced her plans to sue the USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee for lack of action taken against Nassar.
In the months leading up to Nassar's sentencing, Raisman had called out both organisations for not doing more to stop the physician from harming people, and that they should have conducted a thorough investigation.
Biles' winning routine wearing the symbolic leotard came just a few hours after USA Gymnastics president Kerry Perry had spoken at the event, apparently dancing around questions about the repercussions of the Nassar case, AP reports.
When asked whether the organisation was planning to honor the survivors in any way, Perry said there were no plans, and that she hoped to see USA Gymnastics and the victims stand "side by side."
Hoping is one thing. Doing is another, and Biles is taking action, in her own symbolic way.
Topics Activism
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
