Simone Biles Confirms USA Women’s Gymnastics Team’s ‘Official’ Name

Simone Biles has unveiled the official name for Team USA’s women’s gymnastics team following their gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The group of five claimed victory on July 30th, adding another illustrious chapter to their careers. During a post-event press conference, the victorious team joked about their official name, but later that evening, Biles took to social media to confirm they had decided on “the golden girls.”

The Golden Girls

While paying homage to their fantastic performance, Biles’ announcement also gave a nod to the iconic NBC sitcom, The Golden Girls, which ran from the late ’80s to early ’90s and starred memorable characters portrayed by Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty.

Before Biles’ confirmation on social media, an alternative team name emerged during a light-hearted exchange at the press conference. When retired Olympian Aly Raisman inquired about an official moniker for the gold medallists, Simone Biles joked about potential names for the team, but later, they eventually embraced the golden girls as their official name.

Criticism and Controversy

The announcement wasn’t devoid of controversy. Shortly before revealing the official name, Biles appeared to address previous criticism from former teammate MyKayla Skinner via Instagram. Posting a photo with her team and captioning it “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions” seemed a pointed response to Skinner’s recent comments regarding the current team’s work ethic and talent. Skinner had previously criticized the gymnasts for not matching the exertion levels or abilities of their predecessors.

Throughout the competition, team “Golden Girls” performed exceptionally well across vaults, uneven bars, balance beams, and floor exercises. Their amazing performances ensured they stayed at the top of the leaderboard. At the next women’s all-around competition, Simone Biles won gold again, and at the individual event finals, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles both took the gold. The golden girls consist of Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, and Jade Carey.