There was the “Fierce Five” in 2012. The “Final Five” in 2016. And the “Fighting Four” in 2021. Now, there’s the “Golden Girls.”
Simone Biles unveiled the new nickname for this year’s U.S. women’s gymnastics team, hours after winning team gold.
okay on the real though, the official team name is ✨golden girls✨ (because oldest olympic team)
s/o to cecile🥹🤍
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 31, 2024
Biles (27), Jade Carey (24), Jordan Chiles (23), Suni Lee (21) and Hezly Rivera (16) round out the team that has an average age of 22.467 — the oldest U.S. women’s gymnastics team to compete at the Olympics since 1952, according to USA Gymnastics.
The team helped Biles claim the record for most Olympic medals in U.S. gymnastics history. Biles became the ninth woman to win at least eight Olympic gymnastics medals and first to do so since Romania’s Nadia Comaneci finished with nine in 1980, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Biles was asked about the team’s nickname earlier in the day Tuesday by former teammate Aly Raisman at the post-meet news conference. At the time, she jokingly responded, “F— around and find out,” to laughs in the press room.
If you are going to go down in history, then you better have a LEGENDARY team name. #ParisOlympics
🎥: kendallbaker pic.twitter.com/WlecdAnPA5
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 30, 2024
It might have also been a message to the doubters out there. Biles also appeared to respond to controversial comments made by former U.S. gymnast and teammate MyKayla Skinner earlier this month.
In a now-deleted YouTube video, Skinner criticized the talent of the all-around U.S. team.
“Besides Simone [Biles], I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be,” Skinner said. “Just notice like, I mean, obviously a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic.”
Biles seemingly took notice, posting an Instagram photo Tuesday of the team celebrating with a caption — “lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions.”
Source Agencies
