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Simone Biles: The Indomitable Spirit of Gymnastics and Advocacy

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Simone Arianne Biles Owens  impact is felt worldwide, from her groundbreaking achievements to her advocacy for mental health awareness. Despite her impressive career and numerous awards, she remains focused on her goals, especially after the challenges she faced at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Biles is determined to prove herself and her team, aiming for redemption and a chance to showcase their growth and resilience.The Paris 2024 Olympic Games signify more than merely another athletic event; they present a chance for Biles to reinforce her extraordinary legacy both in competition and beyond.

2024 Paris Olympics Participation

Simone Biles in the Women’s Gymnastics Team Finals

Simone Biles is set to participate in the women’s gymnastics team finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 30, following her recent management of a minor leg injury during the women’s qualification round just two days prior.

She will take part in the all-around, vault, floor, and beam events. Suni Lee, who has also faced health challenges, will compete in the all-around, beam, and bars; Jordan Chiles will perform on the floor, while Jade Carey, who has been dealing with an unspecified illness, will compete on the vault.

Hezly Rivera, making her Olympic debut, will not compete but may still earn a team medal. During the qualifying round on Sunday, Biles was observed having her left leg taped, utilizing a foam roller on her calf, and maneuvering off the mat on one leg. She was also seen limping.

Biography of Simone Biles

Early Life and Achievements

 

Simone Arianne Biles Owens, born on March 14, 1997, is an American artistic gymnast who has achieved an impressive 7 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals. She holds the title of the most decorated gymnast in history and is recognized as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. With seven Olympic medals, she is also the ninth-most decorated female Olympic gymnast and shares the record for the most Olympic medals earned by a U.S. gymnast with Shannon Miller.

Career Highlights

Olympic Achievements

 

Biles achieved individual gold medals in the all-around, vault, and floor exercises, as well as a bronze on the balance beam. She also secured gold as part of the United States team, known as the “Final Five”. During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she was expected to win at least four out of the six available gold medals,

she decided to withdraw from most of the competition due to experiencing “the twisties”, a temporary challenge with air awareness while executing twisting elements. Despite this setback, she managed to earn a silver medal with her team and a bronze medal on the balance beam.

Biles has an impressive record as a gymnast, being a six-time World all-around champion, six-time World floor exercise champion, four-time World balance beam champion, and two-time World vault champion. She has also won multiple national championships and been part of several gold medal-winning American teams at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Additionally, she has earned silver and bronze medals in various events at the World Championships.

World Championships

Back in 2019, Biles set a new record for the most World Championship medals in gymnastics, snagging her 24th and 25th medals and leaving Vitaly Scherbo’s 23 medals in the dust.

Since then, she’s added five more World medals to her collection, bringing her total to 30. She also holds the record for the most World all-around titles with six and is one of only six women to have won individual all-around titles at both the World Championships and the Olympics, being the first since Lilia Podkopayeva in 1996 to hold both at the same time.

Biles is the tenth female gymnast and the first American woman to earn a World medal in every event, plus she’s the first female gymnast since Daniela Silivaș in 1988 to medal in every event at a single Olympic Games or World Championships.

Recent Awards and Achievements

Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2022, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden. Fast forward to 2023, and she clinched her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title, breaking a record that had stood for 90 years, previously held by Alfred Jochim.

Biles has also been named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year three times (2017, 2019, 2020) and snagged the Comeback of the Year award in 2024.

Birth and Early Family Situation of

Simone Biles

Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio on March 14, 1997, as the third child among four siblings. Her birth mother, Shanon Biles, was unable to take care of Simone and her siblings, leading them in and out of foster care.

 

In 2000, Biles’ maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, along with his second wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles, took temporary care of Shanon’s children in Spring, Texas, after discovering they were in foster care. By 2003, the couple formally adopted Simone and her younger sister Adria. Meanwhile, Shanon’s aunt Harriet adopted the two older children. Simone holds Belizean citizenship through her adoptive mother and considers Belize her second home. The Biles family practices Catholicism.

Adoption and Family Life of

Simone Biles

Simone attended Benfer Elementary School in Harris County, Texas. She transitioned to homeschooling in 2012, allowing her to dedicate more time to training, increasing from 20 to 32 hours per week. She completed her high school education in mid-2015. Initially committing to UCLA in August 2014 and signing a National Letter of Intent in November 2014, she later decided to turn professional on July 29, 2015, forfeiting her NCAA eligibility to compete for UCLA.

Biles’ gymnastics journey of

Simone Biles

Biles’ gymnastics journey began at the age of 6 during a day-care field trip. The instructors saw potential in her and recommended that she continue with the sport. Biles then joined an optional training program at Bannon’s Gymnastics and started training with coach Aimee Boorman at the age of eight.

 

In 2011, at the age of 14, Biles entered the elite gymnastics scene at the 2011 American Classic in Houston. She performed well, placing third all-around, first on vault and balance beam, fourth on floor exercise, and eighth on uneven bars. Later that month, she competed at the 2011 U.S. Classic in Chicago, where she placed 20th all-around, fifth on balance beam and floor exercise.

 

The following year, Biles participated in the American Classic in Huntsville, Texas, where she excelled, placing first all-around and on vault, tied for second on floor exercise, placed third on balance beam, and fourth on uneven bars. Her performance secured her a spot at the 2012 USA Gymnastics National Championships.

She continued to impress at the 2012 U.S. Classic in Chicago, finishing first all-around and on vault, second on floor exercise, and sixth on balance beam. This led to her being named to the U.S. Junior National Team.

Personal Life of

Simone Biles

Relationships

Biles was involved in a romantic relationship with fellow gymnast Stacey Ervin Jr. from August 2017 until March 2020.

In August 2020, she began dating professional American football player Jonathan Owens. Biles publicly announced her engagement to Owens on February 15, 2022, and the couple tied the knot on April 22, 2023.

Career-Related Injuries and Health  of

Simone Biles

In October 2013, Biles underwent surgery to address bone spurs in her right tibia, which resulted in a three-week hiatus from competition.In 2014, she experienced a shoulder injury that compelled her to withdraw from the American Cup held in March of that year.

In September 2017, Biles publicly discussed her diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) following the unauthorized release of her medical records. These records indicated that she had been prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate) to manage her condition during the Olympics.

Having received her diagnosis in childhood, she had previously informed the World Anti-Doping Agency and secured a medical exemption, permitting her to use the medication while competing. Biles emphasized that ADHD is “nothing to be ashamed of and nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.”

In 2018, she sustained a broken toe and developed a kidney stone.

Simone Biles’s

Advocacy and Testimony on Sexual Abuse

On January 18, 2018, Simone Biles took to Twitter to disclose that she had been sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar, the former physician for USA Gymnastics. She further asserted that USA Gymnastics played a role in facilitating the abuse and subsequently covering it up.

Biles chose not to attend Nassar’s sentencing hearings held from January 16 to 24, 2018, stating that she was “not emotionally prepared to confront Larry Nassar again.” In recognition of their bravery, Biles and other survivors received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2018. During the 2018 U.S.

National Championships, Biles donned a teal leotard of her own design to pay tribute to the survivors of Nassar’s abuse, symbolizing solidarity.

On September 15, 2021, Biles provided testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing her belief that “the entire system” was to blame for enabling Nassar’s actions, criticizing both USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee for their failure to fulfill their responsibilities. Alongside her, three of her national team colleagues—McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman—also testified.

Support from Jonathan Owens for

Simone Biles

Following the Olympic trials in June, Biles informed the media that the Bears were allowing Owens a break from training camp to participate in the Games.

“It is incredibly thrilling for us to be present in each other’s environments, supporting one another’s aspirations and objectives,” Biles remarked at that moment. “The memories we create during these times are irreplaceable, so whenever we have the opportunity to be there for each other, it brings us immense joy. Our schedules often do not coincide, making it all the more significant for us to be present and offer our support whenever possible.”

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