On August 6, a Georgian-language Facebook user published a photo collage of American gymnast Simone Biles with the caption “Baphomet Symbolism.” The description of the post implies that the goat symbol Biles uses is connected to “Baphomet.” The user claims that “Baphomet” is “one of the unofficial mascots of the Paris Olympics.” The images in the collage show the gymnast wearing two different competitive outfits, each embroidered with a goat’s head in various places. In one of the photos, Biles is holding a blanket with the same symbol, and in another, she is seen posing with a goat. In the sixth photo, Biles is pictured with a snake.
The claim about Simone Biles using the “Baphomet” symbol is a conspiracy. In reality, the goat symbol refers to the English word GOAT, which is also an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time.” Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, and the goat’s head is associated with this acronym.
Simone Biles, a seven-time Olympic champion, is the most decorated gymnast in artistic gymnastics history and is regarded as one of the best athletes. In English, such legendary athletes are often referred to as GOAT, which directly translates to “goat – the animal” but in this context, it is used as an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time.” Biles uses the goat head logo on her gear for this reason, and the photo with the goat carries the same meaning.
It is important to note that none of the photos shown in the video were taken at the Paris or any other Olympics. The first three photos, showing two different competition outfits, were circulated in 2021 when Biles used them at a competition in the United States. At that time, she had taken nearly a two-year break from her career and wanted to prove her top-level status upon her return. According to Biles, she decided to use the goat head symbol to annoy her critics and please her fans. Interestingly, her fans gave the symbol a name, “Goldie,” which the gymnast liked very much and continues to use it actively.
In the fourth photo in the circulated video, Biles is holding a blanket with a goat head embroidered on it. The photo was taken in 2021 on an American Airlines flight, where the athlete was presented with this blanket as a gesture of respect during the flight. Simone Biles posted this photo on social media herself, thanking the airline for “taking Goldie to Tokyo.”
The photo where Biles is pictured with a snake was posted by the athlete on her X account in 2020, with the caption: “It’s never too late to shed your skin and start again.” Given the accompanying phrase, the photo has a motivational message. No specific explanation was given for why she took this photo, but it was not considered unusual, as celebrities often take similar photos.
It is worth noting that at the 2024 Olympics, Biles wore a goat-shaped necklace, which she revealed when she received her gold medal. The jewelry was custom-made for her, and according to the designer, it highlights the gymnast’s uniqueness.
Since the start of the 2024 Olympics, Myth Detector has debunked several false claims, visual manipulations, misleading posts, and conspiracy theories.
About the Source:
Facebook user Maia Tvaltvadze frequently spreads false and unverified information, which Myth Detector has debunked many times in the past.
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