The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: "Why Quitters Aren't Winners" – July 28, 2021

Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk addresses the controversy surrounding Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from several Olympic events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, arguing that quitting in tough moments is fundamentally un-American and emblematic of a broader cultural and generational shift. Kirk uses this incident to explore the meaning of duty, personal sacrifice, and national representation, citing historical sports figures to reinforce his thesis: winners don’t quit, and Americans are winners. He invites listeners to understand his point of view, emphasizing clarity over agreement and encouraging honest dialogue about the values Americans should uphold, especially in moments of global visibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Simone Biles Controversy and Kirk’s Core Argument

• Kirk opens by reiterating his stance: "Quitters aren't heroes" (00:33). He distinguishes between having compassion for mental health struggles and excusing what he frames as stepping back for lack of fun or increased stress (00:33-01:52).
• He clarifies that the episode aims to explain in detail why quitting—especially in moments that matter—is unacceptable from both an American and a Christian perspective (01:52-02:46).

2. The Olympics: Not Just Sports, But National Duty

• Kirk underscores that the Olympics is a showcase of national values, not just athletic prowess, drawing on history (e.g., Jesse Owens, the 1980 US hockey team) to frame the Games as geopolitical and cultural battlegrounds (05:30-08:30).
• He argues that to quit on Team USA is to quit on the nation: "The Olympics is a representation to the rest of the world of your values and your nation's values" (08:10).

3. Simone Biles in Her Own Words

• A clip of Biles is played, where she cites stress and lack of fun as reasons for stepping back (10:28-11:03). Kirk dissects this, criticizing the focus on fun and suggesting that true competitors and patriots persevere—"You see, Simone Biles wants glory without bravery. She wants recognition and adoration without courage" (11:03).

4. Generational Shift: Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and Duty

• Kirk connects Biles’ statements to a broader generational issue, claiming a "selfie," self-indulgent culture prioritizes self-care and self-esteem over commitment to something greater (18:45, 27:00).
• He links increased mental health challenges to a decline in outward-focused, duty-driven cultural values—"One of the reasons why generations prior did not have as many mental health issues... is that there was more of a commitment to duty and responsibility and a purpose bigger than yourself" (19:30).

5. Sports Narratives That Exemplify Perseverance

• Kirk references iconic sports moments:

  • Kerri Strug: Completed a vault for gold on an injured ankle (09:02-18:26). "Pain is temporary. Pride is forever" (17:52-E).
  • Kirk Gibson: Hit a World Series home run on two injured legs (22:35-23:16).
  • Jim Abbott: Threw a baseball no-hitter with one hand (23:57-24:16).
  • Michael Jordan's "Flu Game": Played a playoff game while extremely ill (25:28-26:02).
  • Derek Redmond: Finished an Olympic race with a torn hamstring, helped by his father (26:40-27:00).
  • Brett Favre: Played and excelled after his father’s death (29:21-30:01).

• Core Message in these stories: Facing adversity is the test of true character and national identity; perseverance is uniquely American.

6. Simone Biles and Social/Political Critique

• Kirk delves into Biles’ public support of BLM and critiques the "anti-American" narrative he claims is gaining traction among athletes (15:00-17:00).
• He argues: "If you believe America's a gift from the Lord like I do ... I would have to have a broken arm not to compete" (16:40).

7. Role Models and National Representation

• Kirk highlights the importance of role models, noting Michael Jordan's reason for always performing: "He knew that if he was traveling at some arena somewhere, someone was coming just to see him. And he didn't want to let that person down" (26:02).
• He frames the duty to team and country "not just for yourself"—citing Cicero's quote: "Non nobis solum nati sumus" ("Not for ourselves alone are we born") (27:00).

8. Celebration of Perseverance: Anastasia Zolotic

• Kirk contrasts the Biles episode with the underdog story of 18-year-old American Anastasia Zolotic, the first American woman to win gold in Olympic taekwondo (33:55-34:33), celebrating her determination and framing her as an example of American values (34:21-34:33).
• "Cry more, Russia. I love it... That's what it's all about. Suck it up." (34:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On quitting and responsibility:
  "People who quit do not honor the Lord. People who quit do not have the fruit of the spirit that God gives us to live and complete the final race." (01:10)
• On the significance of the Olympics:
  "The Olympics is not just about who runs the fastest and who could do the best gymnastics routine... it's about what happens when it gets tough." (08:30)
• Simone Biles’ own words:
  "It's been a long week. It's been a long Olympic process. It's been a long year. So just a lot of different variables. And I think we're just a little bit too stressed out, but we should be out here having fun. And sometimes that's not the case." (10:28 - Simone Biles audio)
• On generational attitude:
  "The selfie generation, which is her generation, is narcissistic. All about one's own self." (18:45)
• Highlighting grit:
  "Pain is temporary. Pride is forever." (17:52 – E, British narrator on Kerri Strug)
• On patriotism and perseverance:
  "Americans aren't quitters... Pain is temporary. Pride in your nation is forever." (18:26)
• On what it means to win:
  "You want to have fun, win. That's what Americans do." (24:16)
• On leadership and duty:
  "You play to win the game...You don't play to have fun." (14:25-14:56)
• On Simone Biles and values:
  "Team USA is not Team Simone. She represents a nation of over 340 million people... Are you connected to something bigger than yourself?" (18:45, 27:00)
• On American exceptionalism:
  "The Olympics is peaceful geopolitical combat... it says Team USA with the very same colors and flag that was raised over Iwo Jima, that liberated Berlin, that liberated South Korea, that won the American Civil War and was raised again on 9/11. That's what USA means." (34:33)

Important Timestamps

• Opening Statement/Overview (00:33)
• Discussion of Simone Biles and Public Reaction (05:30–09:00)
• Simone Biles Press Clip & Analysis (10:28–11:03)
• Comparison with Kerri Strug (09:02–18:26)
• Role of Duty, Generational Critique (18:45, 27:00)
• Historic Moments & Athletes:
  • Kirk Gibson (22:35–23:16)
  • Jim Abbott (23:57–24:16)
  • Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” (25:28–26:02)
  • Derek Redmond (26:40–27:00)
  • Brett Favre (29:21–30:01)
• Contrast with Anastasia Zolotic’s Olympic Win (33:55–34:33)

Tone and Style

• Tone: Blunt, combative, and unapologetically conservative, with emotional appeals to patriotism, tradition, and faith.
• Language: Direct, colloquial, mixing cultural references, sports history, and biblical allusions.

Conclusion

Charlie Kirk’s "Why Quitters Aren't Winners" episode is a polemic against the normalization of quitting in the face of stress or adversity, focusing on Simone Biles’ Olympics exit as a symptom of a larger cultural and generational shift. Through sports anecdotes and comparisons, he advocates for perseverance, duty, and national pride, positioning these as core American—and Christian—virtues. For Kirk, the Olympics should embody self-sacrifice and grit, not personal fulfillment or fun, making quitters, in his view, the antithesis of American heroes. The episode is a call to return to these values, using recent Olympic outcomes as both a warning and an inspiration.