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Team USA and NBA superstar Kevin Durant says that gymnastics legend Simone Biles is an inspiration to him, but not in the way you’d think.
Anybody who knows Durant knows that he is, like most of us, chronically online. He enjoys going to Twitter rants and clapping back at the haters.
In a recent interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Durant explained how Biles has inspired him to continue to tweet through it, regardless of the haters.
Kevin Durant And Simone Biles Have Similar Mindsets About The Haters
“When people see so much potential in you at an early age, you’re gonna get nitpicked like that, and she’s been through it at the highest of highest levels,” Durant said. “For her to continue to come out and showcase the brilliance every day, and also let people know that they sound crazy talking against her? To be able to do both is inspiring.
“So yeah, she’s inspired me to keep tweeting and keep doing what I do on the court too.”
But for all his jokes, Durant also marveled at Biles’ incredible athletic ability.
“I’d never been to a gymnastic event up close like that,” he said. “Obviously I’d watched (gymnastics) on TV, but it’s different when you’re there. And just to see her greatness, along with the other girls who put so much time into their craft, it’s just amazing to see how great they’ve become.”
Biles recovered from a disastrous 2021 Tokyo Olympics to claim All-Around gold in Paris.
“It was important to me because nobody forced me to be out there on that stage,” she told CNN’s Coy Wire. I solely did it for myself and I’m in a really good spot mentally and physically. So doing this for just me meant the world.”
Durant faced similar critics and injuries in recent years. And he, too, is in the midst of a remarkable 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
So it appears the two of them might well be kindred spirits.