thinx archive
·5 min read
by Team Thinx | December 27, 2016
Image: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles (you know, the one you watched dominate our tv screens and Zac Efron’s heart all summer?) has been named AP’s female athlete of the year, receiving 31 of the 59 votes, made by U.S. editors and news directors. Fellow Olympian Katie Ledecky came in second, with 20 votes, and Serena Williams came in third with 4. Biles had a phenomenal summer, taking home 1 bronze and 4 gold medals-- quite a bit to sink your teeth into (lol, olympic jokes, I miss u.)
Biles is the fifth gymnast to ever receive this honor, following Olga Korbut in 1972, Nadia Comaneci in 1976, Mary Lou Retton in 1984 and Gabby Douglas in 2012. She was the first American gymnast at the 2016 Olympics to win three gold medals, and was the first female gymnast to win 4 golds at one Olympic game since Ecaterina Szabo from Romania, as reported by CNN and The Bleacher Report.
Watch the New York Times video reviewing Biles’ accomplishments from August here, and ask yourself “How does she do it?!” over and over until fully satisfied. Congratulations, Simone!
by Team Thinx