2025 ESPY Awards: Simone Biles’ Big Win & Ilona Maher Gives Powerful Speech

Simone Biles and Ilona Maher won big at the 2025 ESPYS. The two Olympians left their mark on the July 16 award show, taking home some of the night’s biggest honors. Simone won best female athlete and championship performance. The 28-year-old beat out Freddie Freeman, Rory McIlroy and Stephen Curry. The gymnast acknowledged the other people in her category while accepting her award. “Well, that was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men, so thank you guys so much,” she said. Later in the night Ilona won the breakthrough athlete award and shared a powerful message to women in her speech. “Strong is beautiful. Strong is powerful. It’s sexiest whenever you want it to be and I hope more girls can feel how I feel,” she said.