US OLYMPIC champion Simone Biles expressed concern yesterday for the suitability and political beliefs of interim USA Gymnastics president and CEO Mary Bono.

Biles posted an image of one of Bono’s tweets from last month in which she joined in the nationalistic criticism of Nike’s advertising campaign featuring blacklisted NFL quarterback and African-American rights activist Colin Kaepernick.  

On September 7, Bono posted a photograph of herself scribbling out the Nike logo on a golf shoe. Above the photograph her tweet read: “Playing in a charity golf tournament raising money for our nation’s special forces operators and their families. Unfortunately had these shoes in my bag. Luckily I had a marker in my bag too.”

Biles, who is a four times Olympic gold medallist, wrote on Twitter: “Mouth drop. Don’t worry, it’s not like we needed a smarter USA Gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything.”

Bono deleted the tweet yesterday and said: “This in no way reflects how I will approach my position at USA Gymnastics.”

“I will do everything I can to help change the culture and to work with the entire community to build an open, safe and positive environment.”

Bono, a former Republican congresswoman, was appointed last Friday to hold the position while USA Gymnastics searches for a permanent successor to Kerry Perry, who resigned last month after just nine months on the job following widespread criticism for her failure to reform the organisation in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. 

Nassar is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to charges of keeping child pornography and sexual abuse. 

Biles is one of more than 200 women to have come forward alleging former team doctor Nassar sexually abused them.