1. Record-Breaking Gymnast:
Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, as she has racked up 37 Olympic and World Championship medals. Her impressive tally includes seven Olympic medals, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals earned by a U.S. gymnast.
2. Olympic Glory in Rio:
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Biles won individual gold medals in the all-around, vault, and floor events. She also secured a bronze medal on the balance beam and helped the U.S. team, dubbed the “Final Five,” win gold in the team event.
3. Overcoming the Twisties:
During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Biles withdrew from most of the competition due to “the twisties,” a temporary loss of air awareness while performing twisting elements. Despite this, she won a silver medal with her team and a bronze medal on the balance beam.
Her focus on mental health during the games started a broader conversation about the importance of athlete well-being. Following her withdrawal, she said “I say put mental health first. Because if you don’t, then you’re not going to enjoy your sport and you’re not going to succeed as much as you want to. So it’s OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are — rather than just battle through it.”
4. World Champion Dominance:
Biles is a six-time World all-around champion, a six-time World floor exercise champion, and a four-time World balance beam champion. She also holds multiple titles on vault and is a nine-time United States national all-around champion.
5. Shattering Records:
In 2019, Biles broke the record for the most World Championship medals in gymnastics, winning her 24th and 25th medals at the event. This surpassed Vitaly Scherbo’s previous record of 23 World medals.
6. Historic Achievements:
Biles is the first American female gymnast to win a World medal in every event and the first female gymnast since Daniela Silivaș in 1988 to win a medal in every event at a single Olympic Games or World Championships.
7. Presidential Medal of Freedom:
In 2022, Simone Biles was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. Although hundreds of Americans have been bestowed this honor, Biles is the youngest person on the list. With past recipients including eight presidents and numerous famous artists and writers, she’s certainly in good company.
8. Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year:
Biles has won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award three times (2017, 2019, 2020) and Comeback of the Year once (2024). These accolades reflect her resilience and dominance in the sport.
9. Early Life and Adoption:
Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, Biles and her siblings were in and out of foster care due to their mother’s inability to care for them. In 2003, Biles’ maternal grandfather and his wife adopted Simone and her younger sister, while their aunt adopted the two older children. She credits much of her success to her parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles.
In her Facebook Watch series called “Simone Vs. Herself,” Biles said “Being separated from my biological mom, being placed in foster care before I officially got adopted by my grandparents, it just set me up for a better route at life. I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am unless that turning point happened. I would still be Simone Biles, probably not Simone Biles that everybody else knows, the world knows. But I also believe everything happens for a reason and I’m forever grateful for that because I definitely got a second shot at life.”
10. Education and Training:
Biles switched from public school to homeschooling in 2012 to increase her training hours. She graduated high school in mid-2015 and had initially committed to UCLA but decided to turn professional before the 2016 Olympics.
11. Gymnastics Beginnings:
Biles first tried gymnastics at age six during a daycare field trip. She soon enrolled in a training program at Bannon’s Gymnastics and began training with coach Aimee Boorman at age eight. And the rest is history!
12. Junior Elite Success:
Biles began her elite gymnastics career at age 14 and quickly made a name for herself by placing high in various competitions. Her performances secured her a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team.
13. Senior International Debut:
Biles made her senior international debut in 2013 at the American Cup. She quickly rose to prominence, winning multiple titles and being crowned national all-around champion.
14. World Championships Debut:
At the 2013 World Championships, Biles became the first American gymnast to qualify for the all-around and all four event finals since 1991. She won the all-around title and multiple event medals, making her the seventh American woman and the first African American to win the world all-around title.
15. Return to Competition:
After a hiatus in 2017, Biles returned to competition in 2018, winning every event at the National Championships and becoming the first non-Soviet gymnast to win a medal in every event at a single World Championships. Did you read that right? EVERY. EVENT.
16. Continued Dominance:
In 2023, Biles won her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title, breaking a 90-year-old record. She continued to demonstrate her dominance by qualifying for and excelling in multiple World Championships.
17. Advocacy and Recognition:
Known for her advocacy for mental health and her engaging personality, Biles has received numerous accolades, including being named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and receiving the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete.
18. Eponymous Skills:
Biles has five skills named after her in the gymnastics Code of Points, highlighting her contributions to the sport’s technical advancements. These skills — two on vault, one on bean, and two on floor — are some of the most difficult ever performed in women’s gymnastics.
19. Personal Life:
Biles married professional football player Jonathan Owens in 2023 (who, shockingly, didn’t know who she was when they matched on the dating app Raya). She has been open about her ADHD diagnosis and her experience with Larry Nassar’s abuse, using her platform to advocate for change and support other survivors.
