Simone Biles looking forward to 2028 LA Olympics (Image via Instagram@simonebiles)
Simone Biles looking forward to 2028 LA Olympics (Image via Instagram@simonebiles)
We all know Simone Biles for her gold medals. But behind the smiles, she carried a weight during her toughest moment in gymnastics. Biles once believed her country would never forgive her if she backed out of a competition.
While Biles reached every individual final in the Tokyo Olympics, things took a sudden turn during the team final on July 27, 2021. Biles went for a Yurchenko double pike on the vault but had an awkward landing, putting up an unusually low 13.766 score. She knew she couldn't compete safely anymore and decided to pull out of the rest of the event.
In 2024, Biles appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast and talked about the panic she felt right after stepping down. She admitted that she feared getting "banned from America" since she had been told, "Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."
August 5, 2024, Paris, Ile de France, France: Simone Biles of the United States waits for score with coach Cecile Landi after competing on the beam on day three of the gymnastics event finals at the Arena Bercy during the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday August 5, 2024 in Paris. Paris France - ZUMAj89_ 20240805_oly_j89_061 Copyright: xPaulxKitagaki,xJr.x
August 5, 2024, Paris, Ile de France, France: Simone Biles of the United States waits for score with coach Cecile Landi after competing on the beam on day three of the gymnastics event finals at the Arena Bercy during the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday August 5, 2024 in Paris. Paris France - ZUMAj89_ 20240805_oly_j89_061 Copyright: xPaulxKitagaki,xJr.x
Elite gymnastics has a "gold or bust" mentality. On top of that, Biles was dealing with the sudden loss of her aunt.
Her teammates, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles, stepped up and helped the U.S. grab a silver medal. Biles did manage to return later in the Games, winning a bronze on the balance beam.
How Biles Rebuilt Her Life and Her Legend After Tokyo
Following Tokyo, Biles took a necessary break from gymnastics. She admitted that she lost every single "ounce of belief" in herself after those Olympics.
Then came her 2023 comeback and proved to everyone that she was still the best in the sport. Biles returned at the U.S. Classic and picked up her 8th national all-around title. At the World Championships in Antwerp, she helped the U.S. to a 7th consecutive team gold.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, she led the "Golden Girls" to another team gold and took home her second Olympic all-around title. By the end of the Paris Games, she added 3 golds and 1 silver to her name.
People are already asking about the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and Biles puts her chances of competing at "50-50."
But even if she never competes again, Biles has completely changed the sport of gymnastics forever.
Do you think Biles will compete in the 2028 LA Olympics?
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Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Souvik Roy