Superstar U.S. gymnast Simone Biles made history once again at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Monday, August 5th. Alongside Brazilian Rebeca Andrade and teammate Jordan Chiles, Biles helped create the first Olympic gymnastics podium featuring three Black women.
Andrade captured gold, Biles silver, and Chiles bronze in the women's floor final. The trio share 20 Olympic medals between them, with Biles owning 11, Andrade six, and Chiles three. Biles and Chiles bowed to Andrade as she stepped onto the podium, a gesture of respect for the 25-year-old Brazilian who has overcome three ACL tears to become her nation's most decorated Olympian.
"As soon as we were standing there, me and Jordan looked at each other," Biles told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. "We were kind of all cherishing that together because we knew how special it would be, and we knew the impact that it would make on all the little girls around the world that are trying to do what we're doing, just for them to know that it's possible."
Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama praised the moment on Twitter, calling it a "beautiful moment of sisterhood and sportsmanship."
Biles ended her third Olympics with four medals, calling it her "Redemption Tour" after withdrawing from several events at the Tokyo 2020 Games due to mental health concerns. She said she was "so proud, happy, bittersweet that the journey's over" and broke down in tears upon returning to the Olympic Village.
"I don't think I will until one day I decide to retire. But yesterday, once we got back to the village, I looked at Jordan Chiles and just started bawling my eyes out," Biles said on NBC's "TODAY" show. "I think I was just so full of emotion and I finally released all of that."
The 27-year-old hasn't ruled out competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. For now, she wants to be remembered as "someone who loved the sport, had fun doing it and was just authentically herself."
Biles' success in Paris was all the more impressive given she was dealing with a calf injury and had previously struggled with the "twisties" - a mysterious phenomenon where a gymnast suddenly loses the ability to complete twisting skills.
"I dealt with them in therapy. Obviously, you always have those thoughts coming into the back of your head, but just trying to stay as positive as possible, going back to what I know, thinking about my therapy tactics – and it worked," Biles told CNN Sport.
Despite the challenges, Biles won gold with Team USA, took individual all-around and vault gold, and earned silver on the floor exercise. She finished fifth on the balance beam.
The individual balance beam final proved challenging, with half the finalists, including Biles and teammate Sunisa Lee, falling from the apparatus. Biles said the "weird and awkward" atmosphere, with the crowd shushing those cheering, affected the competition.
"It was really weird and awkward," Biles said. "We've asked several times if we can have some music, or some background noise. I'm not really sure what happened there, but yeah, not our favourite. None of us liked it."
Other gymnasts, including Italy's bronze medalist Manila Esposito, also felt the strange crowd dynamics added pressure. Despite this, Italy's Alice D'Amato claimed gold, China's Zhou Yaqin silver, and Esposito bronze.
Biles faced online comments about her appearance during the Games, specifically her hairstyle. She hit back at the critics and had a message for young girls facing similar disparagement.
"You guys are beautiful, confident," she said. "You guys are so smart. Stand in your power, believe in yourself and you guys are going to be just fine – and I'll be here to support you every step of the way. I know it's hard, but you guys are going to do it and you are going to do big things."
Fans of Simone Biles can now show their support for the gymnastics GOAT with this Paris 2024 Simone Biles The GOAT USA Gymnastics Shirt & Hoodie. The shirt features a silhouette of Biles performing her signature move and celebrates her incredible achievements at the Paris Olympics. It's the perfect way for fans to honor one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
With Paris likely her final Olympics, Biles is looking ahead to her future outside the gym. She hopes to have kids with her husband Jonathan Owens and continue being an advocate for mental health.
Above all, Biles wants her legacy to be about more than medals and accolades. "I want to be remembered as someone who loved the sport, had fun doing it and was just authentically herself," she said. It's a fitting aspiration for a gymnast who has inspired so many with her incredible talent, bravery and grace.
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