Simone Biles is set to solidify her legacy as the Greatest of All Time in gymnastics as she heads to Paris, a true Olympic icon who transcends her sport in both victory and defeat.
The exceptional performer shone at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, clinching gold in all-around, vault, floor exercise, and team events.
She came to the Tokyo Olympics carrying high expectations and aiming to make history, but had to withdraw from most of her events due to the challenging mental block known as the “twisties” in gymnastics.
While many praised her as a trailblazer for mental health, some criticized her for quitting. Biles, now 27, has returned from a two-year break stronger than ever.
By 2023, she had accumulated 37 world and Olympic medals, starting with her first all-around world title in 2013 at the age of 16.
Possessing a record six world all-around titles, Biles continues to be a sensation, drawing admiration from superstars like LeBron James and Taylor Swift.
Over seven million Instagram followers celebrated Biles’s wedding to NFL player Jonathan Owens. Swift even praised her choice of a phrase from her song “…Ready For It” for her floor routine at the US Olympic trials.
However, Biles’s journey has been marked by challenges, including her revelation in 2018 that she was a victim of sexual abuse by former Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar.
She has been a vocal critic of USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee for their handling of the scandal, calling for accountability after Nassar’s conviction.
Despite the hardships, Biles is ready to compete in Paris and is grateful for the chance to return to gymnastics on her terms.
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