Video of Mark Robinson calling Simone Biles 'weak little gymnast' goes viral after her Olympics gold win

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is facing backlash on social media after an old campaign video of him criticizing Simone Biles, a celebrated Olympic gymnast, went viral recently.

In the footage, Robinson remarked, “I ain’t no little weak gymnast that quits when the going gets tough. My generation’s cut from a different cloth.”

Mark Robinson's criticism of Simone Biles resurfaces after her Olympics gold win

These comments were made during a period when Simone Biles, who has earned a remarkable number of Olympic medals, was taking a mental health break. Since then, Biles has returned to competition and already led the US team to a gold medal victory in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Robinson continued his tirade by saying, "I don't quit when the going gets tough. Been plenty of times when I've been in the car tired, dog tired. Well, turn around and go back home. You see, I'm not doing this for myself. I'm not like somebody out there flipping around on TV on some monkey bars out there trying to get a gold medal for myself. I'm doing this for a bigger cause."

He elaborated, "I'm doing this for this state. I'm doing it for this nation. I'm doing it for my grandchildren and their children so they can have the kind of life that I have, a life of freedom."

The audience at the event cheered as Robinson contrasted his dedication with what he implied was Biles's selfishness, using the term "monkey bars" to belittle her achievements.

Mark Robinson draws flak for earlier comments about Simone Biles

The video of Mark Robinson's remarks resurfaced online just after Simone Biles secured her eighth Olympic medal, leading to widespread condemnation of the GOP politician on social media.

"Imagine this guy calling the GOAT a weak little gymnast. I’ll refrain from being nasty ………. He can’t do cartwheels," one social media user posted on X.

"He sure didn't quit at Old Country Buffet," another quipped.

"Dude only hits the triple cheeseburger, not the triple double," someone else joked.

"Obese man disparaging a woman who’s currently winning gold medals at the Olympics…. Right," read one comment.

"When’s the last time he stood up without getting winded? Don’t come for a national treasure like Simone," another remarked.

Mark Robinson's past controversial remarks

Mark Robinson has a history of making inflammatory comments about female athletes.

Brittney Griner

In July 2022, Robinson targeted Brittney Griner, a women's basketball player who was detained in Moscow for bringing cannabis into Russia and later released in a prisoner exchange. Griner will represent the US as a member of the national team this year. Following her detention, Robinson called Griner a "leftist stooge" who "deserved to be imprisoned" due to her previous critical remarks about Donald Trump.

In a social media post from July 2022, Robinson wrote, "This leftist stooge had all the freedom a human could want in The United States of America and literally REFUSED to stand up for it and did not appreciate it. Now locked up in a despotic nation she craves the very freedom she spat upon. I care not what fate she faces. Her poor choice got her locked up, and her arrogant ingratitude gets her no sympathy."

Megan Rapinoe

In July 2019, Robinson criticized US women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe, labeling her a “foul-mouthed, anti-American,” “moron,” “stupid,” and an “unpatriotic nitwit” for taking a knee during the national anthem.

He posted on Facebook, "I disliked and vehemently disagreed with ‘president’ Obama. However, it NEVER made me disrespect this Nation or our FLAG and all it STANDS for. Unpatriotic nitwits like this MORON are simply taking their chance to spit on the flag and all it represents. It’s not about PRESIDENT Trump, it’s about arrogance and disgusting disrespect, and the ‘lady’ has that in spades. Perhaps she should have a long conversation with some of the ladies she is playing against. You know, the ones who come from nations without Title IX."

Lindsey Vonn

Robinson's disdain for female athletes also extended to Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. In February 2018, he called her a “dummy” after she criticized Trump.

On Facebook, he wrote, "Lindsey Vonn is a CLASSIC liberal. She talks big political smack and when that big talk BLOWS UP in her face she plays the victim. Remember dummy, YOU started it with your anti-Trump statement. Now that you lost, don't get mad that people are clowning you. You should have stayed in your lane and concentrated on skiing instead of taking digs at our PRESIDENT."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.