Simone Biles dazzled at the Paris Olympics, adding three gold medals and a silver to her already impressive collection. Yet, her journey to Paris was far from easy.
Overcoming the Twisties
At Tokyo 2020, Biles faced the “twisties,” a phenomenon where a gymnast loses the ability to perform twisting skills they’ve done countless times before. This unexpected challenge made her return to the Olympics even more significant.
“It was important to me because nobody forced me to be out there on that stage,” Biles told CNN Sport’s Coy Wire. “I solely did it for myself, and I’m in a really good spot mentally and physically. So doing this for just me meant the world.”
Despite overcoming these challenges, doubts sometimes still crept in. “I dealt with them in therapy. You always have those thoughts in the back of your head, but just trying to stay as positive as possible helped. Thinking about my therapy tactics – and it worked.”
Silver Medal Despite Injury
Biles’ performance on the floor exercise, which earned her a silver medal, was even more impressive given she competed with an injury. Wearing a protective boot on her left foot, Biles revealed she had suffered a fall during warmup, aggravating a pre-existing calf injury.
Despite this, she won gold in the team competition, the individual all-around, and the vault. She concluded her Olympics with a silver on the floor and a fifth-place finish on the balance beam.
After the floor final, Biles and her teammate Jordan Chiles, who won bronze, bowed in honor on either side of gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. This moment of sportsmanship and humility became one of the enduring images of the Olympic Games.
“I think it was really important for that moment,” Biles said. “It was just me and Jordan being ourselves, but it was special and impactful for kids to see that. You win with grace, you lose with grace.”
Empowering Young Girls
During the Olympics, Biles faced online comments about her appearance, particularly her hairstyle. She responded to these critics on Instagram and shared a powerful message for young girls.
“You guys are beautiful, confident,” she said. “You are so smart. Stand in your power, believe in yourself, and you will be just fine – and I’ll support you every step of the way. I know it’s hard, but you will do it and achieve big things.”
The Thrill of Competing
While many might find flipping and twisting through the air terrifying, Biles still finds it thrilling. “Sometimes it feels like time goes really fast, like the floor comes sooner than it should,” she said, laughing. “But most of the time, it feels like you’re up there for a while, just waiting to come back down. But it is really exciting.”
Known for her tenacity, Biles likens her spirit animal in the gym to a “honey badger,” a ferocious little animal. Outside the gym, however, she identifies more with a sloth.
“Honey badger in the gym, sloth outside,” she said.
Simone Biles’ journey to Paris and her performances there highlight her resilience, strength, and grace. Her story continues to inspire many, proving that true champions rise above challenges and shine on the grandest stages.(188jili)