Olympian Simone Biles isn’t backing down from critics after proudly embracing a new title.
Dubbed the “most decorated gymnast of all time” due to her unparalleled achievements in sports, the Ohio native has earned the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). This recognition has sparked admiration from fans and inspired calls for further celebration of her impact.
As she continues to break barriers, Biles recently received a new title, further cementing her mark in the world of sports.
On Monday, the 28-year-old received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Wearing a green doctoral robe, she delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech after being awarded the title of Doctor of Humane Letters.
The 11-time Olympic medalist also took to social media to highlight her recent achievement and encourage her followers.
“Call me Dr. Biles from now on,” she captioned the TikTok post.
Amid the wave of fans congratulating the gymnast on her new title, others reacted negatively, questioning whether the honor was truly deserved.
“Sorry, I’m not calling you doctor,” one wrote.
“Respectfully, you’re kind of making the rest of us look bad, Dr. Congratulations!” a follower added.
A fan expressed a strong opinion on the title and commented, “Can we stop with the honorary degrees already? They’re disrespectful to those who actually earned their doctorates.”
“This is a slap in the face to those who actually work hard to receive the degree,” a TikTok user chimed in.
“’Dr. Biles’ yeah, that’s funny. Save the Dr. title for the real ones out here please. They earned it just like you earned your medal!” another added.
The recognition continues to draw mixed reactions, with some fans arguing that it was overly self-promotional.
“Meanwhile, we actually stressing and paying hella to get the real degrees,” a commenter wrote.
The same goes for another user who said, “And you’re not a doctor lol. Like you have no knowledge to teach anyone. Maybe if it’s a PhD in gymnastics, then you got it, but if not, you don’t deserve it, idc who you are, I work hard for my degrees.”
On the other hand, while critics questioned her use of the “Dr.” title, the gymnast wasted no time in setting the record straight.
Biles clarified that an honorary doctorate recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to a specific field or to society, even if they haven’t followed the conventional path of earning a doctoral degree.
“It’s literally just an honor, kind of like an award,” she responded in one of the comments, adding, “It isn’t the same as an actual degree and we recognize that! God forbid I speak at the graduation.”
