Michael Johnson responds after athletes slammed for celebrating bronze medals

One of the all-time greats Michael Johnson has laid a smackdown on Piers Morgan in a feisty debate about the value of Olympic medals.

Simone Biles of Team United States poses with the bronze medal. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

One of the all-time Olympic greats Michael Johnson has waded into feisty online debate, spearheaded by British commentator Piers Morgan, about what it means to win silver or bronze at the Olympics.

Morgan has stoked a week-long argument – in which he asserts that only gold holds any value and all other medals are technically participation awards – on social media.

It has drawn the attention of several elite athletes over the past few days, but the debate hit fever pitch last night after Simone Biles took bronze on the beam.

Biles, who has had a difficult games, said the bronze meant more to her than any of the golds she won in Rio.

She has attacked by Morgan, who criticised her decision to withdraw from several competitions at the Tokyo Games citing mental health concerns.

And this is where four-time Olympic gold medal winner Michael Johnson comes in.

American runner Michael Johnson is one of the all-time greats. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

After seeing what the bronze meant to Biles, he took to social media to take a thinly veiled swipe at Morgan.

His tweet focused around people diminishing the achievement of bronze and silver medallists, as he noted that winning a medal of any description should be viewed as a great accomplishment for athletes who weren’t predicted to be favourites.

In full, Johnson’s tweet said: “Putting this to rest! Winning any Olympic (medal) is incredible. I was always favoured for (gold) so (silver and bronze) would be disappointing. But if I were a projected finalist, (bronze) is a win!

“Don’t listen to people whose only sport is stirring up sh*t. Regardless of how many followers they have.”

Putting this to rest! Winning ANY Olympic🏅 is incredible. I was always favored for 🥇 so 🥈🥉 would be disappointing. But if I were a projected finalist,🥉 is a win! Don’t listen to people whose only sport is stirring up shit. Regardless how many followers they have. #Olympics

— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 2, 2021

The tweet didn’t mention Morgan by name, but the British commentator seemed to think Johnson was referring to him, prompting – as you might expect – a stern response.

“To all weak whiny wokies still banging on about why losing at the Olympics is so fantastic and should be wildly celebrated, I present Michael ‘GOAT’ Johnson’s Twitter name & bio,” wrote Morgan in one of the tweets.

In another tweet, Morgan said Johnson “agreed with me that real champions are disappointed coming 2nd or 3rd. That’s why his Twitter name is Gold and his bio boasts he won zero silver or bronze medals.”

“As I said, no real champion wants to come 2nd or 3rd,” said Morgan in yet another tweet, replying directly to Johnson, who has not reacted to any of Morgan’s tweets yet.

As I said, no real champion wants to come 2nd or 3rd. 👇 https://t.co/vdBzS89hL7

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 2, 2021

Johnson had, in a previous tweet on July 27, said Biles’s withdrawal from the team competition was a “huge blow” to the US team and wondered if she was “OK for the individual competition”.

Biles praised for winning bronze

Biles told NBC after her performance last night that her bronze “means more than all the golds”.

Her already storied career took flight in the most unexpected direction possible in Tokyo, that comment unthinkable a fortnight ago when she had her sights set on five golds for a record-equalling haul of nine.

But a lot has happened to Biles since the Olympic flame was lit on July 23. And social media was alight with heartfelt congratulations to the 24-year-old after she finished third on her return to competition.

“Congratulations @Simone_Biles … the most important medal @Tokyo2020 @Olympics” tweeted Nadia Comaneci, who entered Olympic folklore at 1976’s Montreal Games with a ‘Perfect 10’ score.

Simone Biles of Team United States poses with the bronze medal. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Biles’ bravery in returning for the closing women’s final after withdrawing from the previous five with her body and mind out of sync rendering the fiendishly difficult art of twisting downright dangerous ranks as one of this Games’ most compelling narratives.

“Not enough words to express how proud I am of you Simone!” coach Cecile Landi posted on Instagram, summing up perfectly Biles’ answer to adversity delivered in the only way she knows how – with a leotard on performing gravity-defying moves mere mortals can only wonder at.

Biles’ medal haul may be less than her many millions of fans were anticipating but she still leaves Japan swelling her haul to seven to match the American record held by Shannon Miller.

– with AFP

Originally published as Michael Johnson responds after athletes slammed for celebrating bronze medals