PARIS, France — Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, wants Paris Olympics viewers to keep any comments about her hair to themselves.
On her way to Tuesday's gymnastics team final, Biles posted twice to her Instagram story about how she and other Olympians were taking a 45 minute bus ride without air conditioning on the warmest day since the start of the Games.
“Don’t come for me about my hair,” Biles wrote in her Instagram story. “IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC and it’s like 9,000 degrees. Oh & a 45 minute ride.”
Biles also took a swing at critics who have mocked her in the past for her hair.
“Next time you wanna comment on a Black girls hair. JUST DON’T,” she added.
Through the years, the record-breaking gymnast has faced unnecessary critiques about her hair, something she reflected on during an interview with ELLE.
“I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional,” she told ELLE. “But I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”
After Tuesday's Instagram posts, Biles led the U.S. women's gymnastics team to a dominant victory in the Olympic team final. The Americans won by nearly six points over Italy — an emphatic blowout.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
