Simone Biles
FRANCISCO SECO (AP)
Simone Biles may be best known for her powerful flips and record-breaking routines, but her greatest strength goes beyond gymnastics.
The Early Years:
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1997, Biles’ early life came with its fair share of challenges. She and her siblings were placed in foster care when she was very young until her maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, stepped in to give her and her sister a loving, stable home. That love became the foundation for everything that would come next.
It was during a daycare field trip that Simone first encountered gymnastics. She was just six years old, but something clicked. She took to the sport like she was made for it—and maybe she was. By the time she was a teenager, she was already making waves in national competitions. At 16, she won her first World Championship. And by 19, she was a global star at the 2016 Rio Olympics, dazzling the world with four gold medals and a bronze.
But medals only tell part of the story.
Beyond the Medals:
Over the years, Simone has done what no one else could—literally. She’s invented five original moves so difficult and daring, that they now bear her name: The Biles (Vault), The Biles (Floor), The Biles II (Floor), The Biles (Beam), and The Biles II (Vault). These aren’t just routines. They are innovations, attempts so risky they’re rarely replicated, even by elite athletes. Her legacy is etched into the very language of her sport.
But Simone’s story, like so many, has layers beyond the spotlight.
Speaking Truth to Power:
In 2018, Biles revealed that she had been one of the many young women abused by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. It was a painful truth—one that she carried for years in silence. And when she finally spoke out, it was for herself and the countless others who had been hurt and unheard. “Larry Nassar took a part of me that I can’t get back,” she said, her voice tinged with emotion that had taken a lot of strength to convey, in a 2023 interview on Megyn Kelly TODAY.
While she shared her story, she also demanded change, testifying before the U.S. Senate and calling for accountability from the very institutions that had failed to protect her and her teammates. It was a turning point for survivors everywhere who saw their pain reflected in hers.
And then came Tokyo. The 2020 Olympics, delayed to 2021, saw Simone make another brave choice: citing mental health concerns, she withdrew from several events. It was a deeply human moment. Even the strongest among us need space to breathe, to heal. And once again, Simone led by example, reminding the world that our well being comes before whatever image we hope to paint to the world.
The Paris Comeback:
Fast forward to 2024. Paris. She came back with a strong resolve to win and show the world what it looks like to grow, heal, and rise. “Simone is a reference for the entire world,” Rebecca Andrade, a silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games testified. “Not just for gymnastics, but for many athletes. Being able to watch, see how she competes, and especially how happy she is here is very gratifying.” Simone earned team gold and reclaimed the individual all-around title, pulling out all the big guns in her arsenal to earn a full-circle moment years in the making.
The Lasting Legacy:
Today, Simone Biles is more than an Olympian. She’s a reminder that healing is possible and her story is a living testament to what resilience looks like. That our past may shape us, but should not define us. And that there’s strength in speaking out, choosing rest, and coming back stronger, not just in sport, but in life.
Simone Biles has shown the world what true greatness looks like. And it begins not with the body, but with the heart.
