A United Airlines flight attendant allegedly mistook champion Olympian Simone Biles for a child on her way back from receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week.
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Biles, only 4’8”, was offered a coloring book as she boarded.
At only 25, Biles was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a right not shared by many. It’s given only to the best of the best; On her way home from getting it – Biles posted a selfie to Instagram – that’s since been reposted to Twitter – of her sitting in her seat with her lips pursed. The caption read, “not the flight attendant trying to give me a coloring book when I board…. I said, ‘no, I’m good. I’m 25.’”
The repost featured the hilarious tagline, “[I] ’m crying at the thought of a flight attendant giving Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, a coloring book because she is 4’8.”
i’m crying at the thought of a flight attendant giving simone biles the most decorated gymnast in history a coloring book because she is 4’8” pic.twitter.com/s03QHpUUH8
— matt (@mattxiv) July 9, 2022
She quickly cleared the air, adding that another attendant offered her a mimosa in juxtaposition.
“The other flight attendant gave me mimosas, so we’re in the clear. She did ask if I was old enough to drink,” she wrote in the caption of a second photo – showing off an in-flight mimosa in her hand.
The comments continued to highlight how United Airlines used to sponsor Team USA and welcomed Biles in a few Instagram posts. People pointed out how it only makes it more embarrassing that they didn’t recognize her.
When @Simone_Biles comes to visit us at work, we can’t help but get excited. #TeamUnited pic.twitter.com/lQCCwYmXzH
— United Airlines (@united) October 10, 2016
The whole exchange took place on a flight from Washington D.C to Texas – where Biles lives.
She’s the youngest person to be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a right President Joe Biden praised her. In her award ceremony, Biden praised her for advocating in the realms of foster care, sexual assault, and mental health care. He said, [Biles] turn[s] personal pain into a greater purpose, to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Simone Biles, the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history, became the youngest recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. pic.twitter.com/Z4CnNqUyR8
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 7, 2022
