The sports world thrives on debates about greatness, and this years’ Time magazine Athlete of the Year selection has ignited another great debate as fans on social media are split over who truly deserved the 2024 title.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark took the honor, but many believe gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles should have won. Some argue that race may have played a role in why the 2021 AOY winner was snubbed.
Caitlin Clark’s greatness is hard to dispute. In her final season at the University of Iowa, she led the Hawkeyes to a second straight national championship appearance and finished as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever was equally historic. The No. 1 draft pick became the first rookie to record a triple-double and finished the season as the Rookie of the Year.
Sports Illustrated highlighted her unprecedented impact, noting that no WNBA point guard, rookie or otherwise, has ever scored and assisted as much in a season in the history of the league. However, even with all of her accomplishments, the backlash over her AOY win was swift and pointed.
Some corners of social media erupted with criticism, primarily focusing on what critics perceived as a lack of championship credentials.
One X user captured the sentiment bluntly, “By winning nothing? White Privilege at its height. Simone Biles broke Olympic records but @Time named a woman who won nothing as Athlete of the Year.”
By winning nothing? White Privilege at its height. Simones Biles broke Olympic records but @Time named a woman who won nothing as Athlete of the Year https://t.co/YvSXLAYmCy pic.twitter.com/5qv0C2MW1x
— NoChillMood🪷 (@ritaag) December 10, 2024
Another critic echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Simone Biles was certainly a more deserving athlete for the honor. But these white media outlets have their own agenda.”
One X user wrote, “I feel like I’m in a fever dream because how did she get this,” as another replied to her, “White woman whose TEAM did not win a championship, while Simon Biles excelled in her sport.”
The argument for Biles is compelling. At 27, she dominated the Paris Olympics, securing three gold medals and one silver.
Furthermore, her athletic résumé is unprecedented: eleven Olympic medals, seven of them gold, and a total of 40 medals across world championships and Olympic competitions —more than any gymnast in history, male or female.
Financially, Biles stands tall as the ninth-highest-paid female athlete in 2024, earning $11.1 million through sponsorships and athletic achievements. Her representation of the United States on the global stage has been nothing short of extraordinary.
While the debate rages, both athletes have been named finalists for BBC Sports’ 2024 World Sports Star of the Year award, alongside exceptional athletes like Catherine Debrunner, Armand Duplantis, Sifan Hassan, and Leon Marchand.
SOURCE: atlantablackstar.com
