Four-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles has pushed back against online criticism after facing backlash for traveling to Belize just two weeks after surviving a life-threatening medical emergency.
The controversy ignited after Biles shared vacation photos from her trip on social media, prompting harsh comments from users who questioned her decision to travel so soon after her health scare. One high-profile comment mocked her situation, writing, “Almost died, but look at these travelling selfies….”
Rather than ignoring the negative feedback, Biles responded directly to address her critics. “Ugh, these comments make me sad,” she wrote in her reply. “A little over two weeks ago, I experienced a serious medical emergency that could have ended very differently, and this trip has been part of allowing myself to heal & appreciate being here.”
The 29-year-old athlete added that the near-death experience fundamentally shifted her perspective on life, urging social media users to extend more grace to people navigating recovery after traumatic health events. “Life-changing experiences can alter a person’s outlook,” she explained.
Biles first opened up about the health scare earlier this June, when she posted a photo of hospital wristbands to her social media with the caption, “Almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week.” She later called the incident “one of, if not the scariest, experiences of my life.” As of this week, Biles has not disclosed the specific cause of the medical emergency, noting she is not yet prepared to share public details about her condition.
Biles traveled to Belize on June 14 alongside her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens. The Central American country holds deep personal meaning for the gymnast: her mother Nellie Biles was born and raised in Belize, and Biles holds Belizean citizenship through her mother’s family. She has previously spoken about visiting the country as a child, making the trip a meaningful personal retreat rather than an impulsive luxury getaway.