25-year-old Olympic gold medal gymnast Simone Biles reacts after being mistaken for a child on flight

By Sam Wareing

Published Jul 12, 2022 at 01:00 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

33528

Four-time gold medal Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was accidentally mistaken for a child on her flight home from an awards ceremony.

The 25-year-old had been visiting the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, becoming the youngest person ever to do so. However, after boarding her flight home, an attendant mistook her for a child and offered the athlete a colouring book.

Four feet eight inches-tall Biles posted about the debacle on Instagram, writing “Not the flight attendant trying to give me a colouring book when I board… I said ‘no I’m good, I’m 25’.”

Another attendant thankfully didn’t make the same mistake and was on hand to offer a more age-appropriate in-flight treat: booze. To this, Biles added: “The other flight attendant gave me a mimosa so we’re in the clear.”

25-year-old Olympic gold medal gymnast Simone Biles reacts after being mistaken for a child on flight

Biles’ post has since gone viral after YouTuber Matt Bernstien tweeted about it, stating: “I’m crying at the thought of a flight attendant giving Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, a colouring book because she is 4’8.”

The post now has over 130,000 likes and is inundated with comments from people who find the situation equally amusing.

One user wrote, “Not the colouring book to the Presidential Medal of Freedom pipeline.” Another said, “You’re never too old for a colouring book 😎” with others responding: “And some wine to go with it.”

Few sympathised with the gymnast, saying “I so get this. I’m 5’2”, my daughter is 5’0”. What drives us craziest??? The people that say “You’re so cuuuute!” And then they try and PICK YOU UP! I swear it’s the truth.”

Despite being small in stature, Biles is more than capable of standing up for herself. And this was made evident in an exchange with Trump’s campaign lawyer Jenna Elis earlier this month, where Elis made a nasty remark in regards to the news of Biles receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “Fittingly, Biden awarded his presidential medals to fellow losers, Biles and Rapinoe,” the lawyer said.

To this, Biles responded with: “Who is Jenna Ellis? Asking for everyone.” Savage.

Keep On Reading

By Eliza Frost

American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney face backlash with employee’s LinkedIn post adding fuel to the fire

By Eliza Frost

Netflix is predicting your next favourite show based on your zodiac sign 

By Charlie Sawyer

Former Harry Potter star tells reporters he doesn’t understand JK Rowling’s Twitter transphobia

By Eliza Frost

Does the SKIMS Face Wrap actually work, or is it just another TikTok trap?

By Eliza Frost

Taylor Swift is engaged to the boy on the football team, Travis Kelce 

By Eliza Frost

Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks

By Eliza Frost

UK to lower voting age to 16 by next election. A controversial move, but the right one

By Eliza Frost

The swag gap relationship: Does it work when one partner is cooler than the other?

By Eliza Frost

Rina Sawayama calls out Sabrina Carpenter’s SNL performance of Nobody’s Son for cultural insensitivity 

By Eliza Frost

Misogyny, sexism, and the manosphere: how this year’s Love Island UK has taken a step backwards

By Eliza Frost

Millie Bobby Brown reportedly accuses Stranger Things co-star David Harbour of harassment and bullying 

By Eliza Frost

Zayn Malik’s new song suggests One Direction era wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows

By Charlie Sawyer

From breaking up families to spreading rumours about Joe Biden’s death, here’s what QAnons been up to

By Alma Fabiani

Amazon Music is giving away 4 months free. Here’s how to claim it

By Eliza Frost

Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law; this is what it means for you

By Eliza Frost

We finally know why Conrad and Belly broke up in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2

By Eliza Frost

Sabrina Carpenter says you need to get out more if you think Man’s Best Friend artwork is controversial 

By Eliza Frost

Do artists really owe us surprise guests at gigs, or are our expectations out of control?

By Charlie Sawyer

22-year-old groom arrested after police find 9-year-old bride at staged Disneyland wedding

By Eliza Frost

How exactly is the UK government’s Online Safety Act keeping young people safe?