WATCH: Vance thought Simone Biles shouldn't be praised for quitting 2021 Olympics at her 'weakest moment'

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance was caught criticizing Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in a resurfaced clip. 

The video has been making rounds over the internet as the veteran Olympian led Team USA's women's gymnastics squad to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30.

JD Vance said Simone Biles shouldn't be praised for withdrawing from 2021 Tokyo Olympics

During his appearance on a Fox News panel moderated by host Harris Faulkner on July 28, 2021, JD Vance was asked if he thought Simone Biles "let down the country" when she withdrew from several events of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

The then-Ohio Senate candidate responded, "Biles was under an incredible amount of pressure," before adding, "What I find so weird about this, and it reflects more on the media than it does on Simone Biles, is that we've tried to turn a very tragic moment — Simone Biles quitting the Olympic team – into this act of heroism."

He continued, "And I think it reflects poorly on our sort of therapeutic society that we try to praise people not for moments of strength, not for moments of heroism, but for their weakest moments."

In a statement announcing Biles' withdrawal from the 2021 all-around gymnastics competition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) praised the gymnast for her "courage" in choosing to put her mental health ahead of winning an Olympic medal.

Vance disagreed with the media's praise of Biles for her decision to prioritize her mental health.

In the clip, he further stated, "Look, being an athlete is tough. Being an athlete at that level is incredibly tough. A normal response would be, 'It's such a shame that she's going through this, it's a shame that she quit.' But instead, what our press has done, I think, has turned this into this weird therapeutic moment. 'Let's praise her for doing this.' And I think that's really where the problem herein lies."

Internet slams JD Vance for saying Simone Biles shouldn't be praised for 'weakest moment' after she withdrew from the 2021 Olympics

As the resurfaced clip from 2021 went viral, netizens didn't hold back their thoughts on JD Vance's criticisms of Simone Biles. 

One wrote, "JD Vance is disgusting," and another said, "Tell me you’ve never played a team sport, weirdo."

A person mentioned, "The sad part for him is that he doesn’t understand that it *was* a moment of strength for her," while someone else wrote, "Weird Vance, it’s time for you to be quiet now."

One more pointed out, "This was Simone Biles strongest moment. Why would you fault someone for doing not only what’s best for themself, but best for the team and the sport? No surprise that JD doesn’t get it."

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