When Simone Biles Excels, Do the Rules Change?

In the world of sports, excellence is often rewarded with gold medals, roaring crowds, and historic milestones. However, when Black athletes like Simone Biles exhibit that excellence, the reward sometimes comes with questions and even calls for changes to the rules. After her 6th World Championship win, Russia’s National Gymnastics coach Valentina Rodionenko expressed dissatisfaction, stating that Biles’ style lacked “aesthetic” and was purely focused on “difficulty.”

Russia’s National Gymnastics coach wants rules changed after Simone Biles wins the World Championships for the 6th time. She said Simone “had no great performance, only difficulty.” pic.twitter.com/T2XZHlCJiv

— James Jones (@jamesjonesesq) October 10, 2023

The Issue of “Caucasian Math”

What Rodionenko refers to as a matter of aesthetic preference could be seen as an example of what some call “Caucasian Math”—the practice of altering the rules or criteria when Black individuals excel, to preserve the status quo. Biles, who has six gymnastic moves named after her due to their complexity, seems to threaten this status quo. Instead of encouraging other gymnasts to “step up,” the dialogue becomes about changing the rules to make it easier for others to win.

It’s worth mentioning that Russia, represented by Rodionenko, has had its own share of controversies, with numerous doping scandals leading to the country’s consistent banning from the Olympics. The focus, then, might need to be internal rather than critiquing the phenomenal successes of athletes like Biles.

A Look Back in History

This is not a new phenomenon. In the early 20th century, Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion, faced tremendous backlash for his prowess in the ring. Legislation like the Mann Act was weaponized against him, leading to his imprisonment. Likewise, the “Gibson Barrier” kept Althea Gibson from competing in professional tennis tournaments until it was broken in 1950. In both cases, the athletes’ successes were met with systemic attempts to restrain them.

In tennis, Serena Williams has faced stricter rules enforcement, such as time violations between points, which disproportionately affect her playing style. The world-record sprints of Florence Griffith-Joyner prompted increased scrutiny over athletic uniforms, and gymnast Simone Biles saw her signature “Biles II” move undervalued by the International Gymnastics Federation, raising questions about systemic bias. While no formal rule changes were made to limit Usain Bolt’s sprinting spikes or Michael Vick’s quarterback scrambling, the discussions around such changes were telling. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faced a ban on dunking during his college career, a rule later repealed but indicative of how governing bodies can alter the landscape to counter a single player’s influence. These instances collectively point to an unsettling pattern: when Black athletes excel, the boundaries of the game are often redefined, calling into question the equity of the very systems that proclaim to celebrate excellence.

Final Thoughts

As Simone Biles continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in gymnastics, she also challenges societal norms about who gets to be excellent and how that excellence is received. The call to change rules when Black athletes excel is not just about sports; it’s a mirror reflecting systemic issues that still require attention and change. It’s time we celebrate excellence for what it is, rather than questioning its validity based on the color of the athlete’s skin.