Most people think Simone Biles is the best gymnast ever. She has changed the sport of gymnastics and become a global symbol of excellence, mental health advocacy, and resilience. Her career has been marked by unprecedented athleticism, courage, and determination.
The Beginning of Life and Rise to Fame
Simone Arianne Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, and it was not easy for her to get there. She grew up in foster care until her maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, adopted her. She now calls them her parents. Her natural talent first showed up when she went to a gymnastics center on a field trip with her daycare. She started formal training when she was eight, and her coaches quickly saw that she was a rare combination of strong, agile, and fearless.
Biles started competing at the highest level in 2011 and won her first U.S. national championship in 2013. That same year, she competed internationally for the first time and won the all-around title at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. This was the start of a great career.
Achievements That Set Records
Simone Biles has won an amazing number of medals and awards:
- As of 2023, she has the most medals of any gymnast in history, with 37 from the Olympics and the World Championships.
- Seven medals from the Olympics, four of which were gold medals from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- The first woman to win five World All-Around titles.
- Four gymnastics moves are named after her, which shows how brave and creative she was in pushing the sport’s limits.
Biles is different not only because she has won so many medals, but also because of how she wins them. Her routines include the hardest skills that have ever been done by a woman in a competition. The Yurchenko double pike vault and the triple-double on floor are two moves that have changed what is possible in women’s gymnastics.
Bravery Beyond Competition
Biles is great for more than just her athletic skills. She made news during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were held in 2021 because of the pandemic) not for winning, but for dropping out. Biles bravely pulled out of several events to put her health first because she was dealing with mental health issues and a condition called the “twisties,” which is a dangerous loss of air awareness.
Her choice started a worldwide discussion about mental health, especially among athletes, and many people praised her for being so brave. Biles came back to compete in the balance beam final, where she won a bronze medal and cemented her place as a champion and a role model.
Legacy and Effect
Biles has changed gymnastics for good. Because of her physical achievements, judges have to rethink how they score difficulty. But maybe more importantly, she has changed the culture of sports by speaking out against abuse, pushing for the health of athletes, and using her platform to make things better.
She has won many awards, including being named Time’s Athlete of the Year in 2021. She continues to inspire new generations of athletes.
Final Thoughts
Simone Biles is a cultural icon, not just a gymnast. Her journey—from foster care to Olympic glory, from mental health advocate to trailblazer—shows what it means to be determined and human. Simone Biles keeps raising the bar, both in gymnastics and in life, whether she’s flying through the air or standing up for what she believes in.
